Flags for Fallen Veterans

This past May, over 20 employees and family members came together at the South Florida National Cemetery to participate in this Memorial Day tribute. While placing flags, volunteers took the time to read each soldier’s name, branch of service, and placed a coin on their headstone as a symbol of respect and remembrance.

One of our team members taught us that placing coins at the headstone of a fallen soldier is a long-time tradition that symbolizes to family members that their loved one has not been forgotten. Our team left pennies at each headstone, which symbolizes that someone has visited the soldier. A nickel indicates that you trained in boot camp together, a dime signifies that you served together, and a quarter means that you were present at the soldier’s passing.

Flags for Fallen Veterans, a non-profit established in May 2012, was created with one mission: to ensure that “an American Flag is placed upon every veterans grave site at each National Cemetery in the Country for Memorial Day.” There are an estimated 800,000 veteran grave sites across the nation that are not given this honor, making the nonprofit’s work vital to the community.

It is especially important to Flags for Fallen Veterans that no soldier is ever forgotten. There is an old saying, “Every man has two deaths: when he is buried in the ground and the last time someone says his name” (Ernest Hemingway). Through their Memorial Day tribute, we keep our fallen soldiers’ memories alive by honoring their brave sacrifice to protect our freedom.

Since joining the team seven years ago, Ellen has been a committed supporter of Flags for Fallen Veterans. “It is important to me to participate in Flags for Fallen Veterans to remember and honor those who served and sacrificed for our country,” she shared. Ellen made it a tradition with her family to volunteer at the Memorial Day tribute not only to serve their community, but to honor her father as well. Ellen’s dad was a veteran and is buried at the South Florida National Cemetery. “Each year after placing the flags, we visit his grave,” she said.

One of Ellen’s most impactful memories while volunteering was when she came to the realization of how young many of the fallen soldiers are. “When reading the names, you notice that some died so young,” she reflected.

“It is a privilege to work for a company that believes it is important to give back to the community,” Ellen emphasized. For her, Florida Peninsula’s involvement in the community reinforces our collective gratitude and respect for those who served.