Fluttering red, white, and blue flags again mark the roughly 1,300 veterans' graves throughout Newtown.

Visiting cemeteries and graveyards both large and small on May 17, volunteers, bundles of decorative flags in hand, pressed fresh flags into the soil beside grave markers and headstones.

Coordinated through the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 308 annually in time for Memorial Day, groups of volunteers including Scout troops, Second Company Governor's Horse Guard members, high school students, and others joined VFW members and auxiliary members to distribute flags.

Outgoing Post Commander Don Bashak quickly explained, "Don't let the flags hit the ground." He then told volunteers to look at both the grave markers - a plaque on the ground - and headstones and monuments with last year's flags that need replacing. When pressing a new flag into the ground, he said, "Make it straight and have respect for it. Press it into the ground and say, 'Thank you.'"

Also welcoming volunteers that afternoon was incoming Commander Ray Wisniewski.

Several cars crept through Newtown Village Cemetery a short time later, stopping at the top of an aisle. Clutching a bundle of flags, Emma Vandermeersch, 5, approached several sites with a fresh flag.

Nearby was Matthew Cardamone with Cub Scout Troop 70, who pushed his first flag into place.

Several rows away were Lauren Smiley and her mother Karen, and brother Andrew, also juggling an armful of flags, setting them in place one by one.

VFW Post 308 will host a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 29, at 11 am. It is open to the public. The post is on Freedom Defenders Way (14 Tinkerfield Road).