Poland honors fallen heroes with annual flag placement ceremony

On Saturday morning, community members in Poland came together at Riverside Cemetery to carry on a 96-year tradition of remembrance ahead of Memorial Day.

More than 1,000 American flags were placed on the graves of local veterans as part of a solemn and symbolic act led by the Sons of the American Legion Mahoning Valley Squadron 15. The event marked the beginning of Poland's Memorial Day Procession and Ceremonies.

“We’re placing the flags on over 1,000 veterans' graves here in historic Riverside Cemetery,” said Jeff Vrabel Jr., Chairman of Poland’s Memorial Day Procession and Ceremonies. “We have different Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Knights of Columbus, members of the American Legion family, and the Holy Family youth group. We get a good showing out of the community.”

The flag placement ceremony is also part of the Flying Flags For Heroes initiative—a national project launched by former Sons of the American Legion National Commander Mike Fox. Originally started in California, the initiative aims to place 1.5 million flags on veterans’ graves across the country in 2025.

“Here in Ohio, it's something we’ve always done,” Vrabel explained. “But the goal is to grow this nationwide so no veteran grave goes without a flag.”

For veterans like Roderick Hosler, past post commander of American Legion Post 15, the event holds deep meaning.

“If we forget their service, we forget them,” Hosler said. “So we always want to continue that remembrance. The flag on the grave is our way of paying tribute.”

Hosler also emphasized the importance of involving young people in the tradition. “Placing the flags teaches the younger kids the importance of service. It gives them a sense of community involvement and lets them enhance their own patriotism,” he said.

While the act may seem small, organizers say the message behind it is lasting: to honor the past and inspire the future.