Veterans' graves in Verona Cemetery tended by volunteers

Oakmont Lions Club members and a host of other volunteers have made it their mission to make sure the graves of soldiers are as meticulously maintained as their uniforms once were.

About 60 people planted 650 red geraniums at Verona Cemetery in Oakmont on May 25, the Saturday before Memorial Day.

The project was inspired by the wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery around Christmas.

There are more than 650 veterans buried in Verona Cemetery, including 60 from the Civil War. Diane Harrell, Lions Club first vice president and project coordinator, said the geraniums were planted at untended graves.

“We were lamenting the fact that so many graves were no longer decorated because their families are no longer in the area,” she said. “People are very appreciative. We get monetary donations from those who can’t plant to offset the cost of flowers.”

Both of Harrell’s parents are buried at the cemetery. Her father, Robert Hackett, was a World War II veteran, serving as lieutenant junior grade in the Navy.

Harrell said volunteers do “whatever needs to be done” in order to make the headstones worthy of those buried and presentable for the Oakmont/Verona Memorial Day parade and service.

“We’re certainly at Mother Nature’s mercy here,” Harrell said. “It’s one of those rain-or-shine projects. Geraniums are more drought-tolerant. If you go through a long dry spell, they would have a better chance of surviving than other flowers do, and are a traditional flower for a cemetery.”

Harrell said the planting has been successful each year and hopes more people volunteer next year.