Tribute to the fallen

Staff photo by Spc. Todd Schartung Brandon Broach, a member of Boy Scout Troop 128, placed a flag during the commemoration.

Scouts place flags on post graves

By Michelle Scobba/Inside the Turret special writer

Fort Knox Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scouts paid tribute to deceased soldiers May 22 in preparation for Memorial Day visitations by placing 882 American flags in front of gravestones in the main post cemetery.

Nearly 30 scouts helped honor the soldiers as an act of community service.

According to John Signorino, a Boy Scout troop leader, the children responded positively.

"It was all positive. Really patriotic. It taught them to be patriotic on this day," he said.

Taking an added interest in the project, some scouts lingered over the headstones, reading the inscriptions to learn a bit more about the lives of those buried there.

"A lot of the kids were excited and interested in just reading the gravestones, something I didn't expect them to be interested in," Signorino said.

"Several stayed afterward just to read the gravestones and what year they died."

Although this was the first time the scouts had participated in the event, Signorino said they plan on establishing it as an annual tradition.

"Normally, scouts do this throughout the United States,'' he said. ‘‘We're going to make it that every year the scouts will do this for Memorial Day."