Article helped rally volunteers to cemetery

To say a simple thank you is not sufficient for the effect of your newspaper's May 26 article about putting flags on veterans' graves at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Erica Pennington, who wrote the article, was spot on when it came to getting people's attention.

I am very aware of the power of the printed word. On May 28, the people who have helped me for many years and seen only a few new people show up to help distribute flags were witness to more than 200 volunteers who came when called. Cars were everywhere and people were pouring out of them like ants out of an anthill. I was overcome with emotion.

We were able to get almost everything done by 10 a.m. and to my knowledge that has never been done. Kudos to the media. And of course, KCRG-TV9 did its share also with the clip they did when I expressed my need for help. In addition, people came back to the assembly area after finishing and wanted to know if I needed help on Tuesday to pick them up. I was surprised with several people coming out early Tuesday morning. We picked up all 6,000 flags, between showers, by 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

We will be back next year and the year after, etc., and many of the new volunteers said they will be back too. That is important to keeping this tradition going. I know my mom was looking down on us Saturday and she is probably in awe that so many people turned out to help.

Jerene Thomas

Marion