Robert Bachman, a longtime member of the Norfolk Lions Club and military veteran, in 2010 suggested that the Lions Club honor Norfolk’s veterans by distributing flags along the Memorial Day parade route. The first year 576 flags were handed out by Lions Club members and the Norfolk Lions Club Ambulance.
Robert passed away in 2012, but his patriotic legacy continues. The number of flags has varied throughout the years, but we estimate that some 7,500 flags have waved over our annual parade, a tradition we proudly continue.

As you drive through town on Route 44 you will see 22 flags proudly displayed on each light post. These flags were donated by the Lions Club and suspended by the town crew in time for Armed Forces Day, May 17. They will remain until the Fourth of July.

Dec. 13 has been designated as National Wreath Across America Day, a movement that began in 2007 with placing wreaths with red bows on all graves at Arlington National Cemetery. Today in the U.S. there are more than 4,900 participating locations where wreaths are being placed. Norfolk Lions Club hopes to join this program by placing wreaths at the gravesites of all veterans buried in Norfolk cemeteries.

This is a monumental undertaking for a small club such as ours, but we feel strongly about remembering and honoring all those who have served for our country and our safety.

This can only be done with the help of the Norfolk community. Therefore, we are appealing to all our town families to support this special tradition and to volunteer with us as we honor our veterans. We have five cemeteries in town, with most veteran gravesites identified by military markers and flags.

However, there may be others unknown. We ask that anyone with a family member or friend who is not identified by a marker please let us know the name of the veteran, the location of the gravesite and designation of service. This will be passed to the Norfolk VFW representative so that each grave may be properly identified with service affiliation and flag.

Many hearts and hands are needed to add our town’s participation in the National Wreath Across America Day project and for it to be successful. If you wish to participate in honoring and memorializing a loved one who served in our armed forces, we ask that you please consider a donation to cover the cost of the wreaths and sharing some time placing them at the graves and removing them after 30 days.

We hope that we can count on our friends and neighbors to help us accomplish this new and significant project. More information will follow as we move forward.

Sandy Evans
President, Norfolk Lions Club