[StBernard] Volunteers are needed to assist with Memorial Day commemoration in Chalmette

[Westley Annis]

Volunteers are needed to assist with Memorial Day commemoration in Chalmette
Chalmette National Cemetery
Print NOLA Community Submission By NOLA Community Submission 
on May 02, 2014 at 9:09 AM, updated May 02, 2014 at 9:24 AM

The Vietnam Veterans of VFW Post 3798, the National Park Service, and The
National WWII Museum will hold Memorial Day programs May 25 at Chalmette
National Cemetery, 8606 West St. Bernard Highway, Chalmette. All programs
are free and open to the public. For more information call 504-281-0510.

The Vietnam Veterans of VFW Post 3798 will present a Memorial Day ceremony
May 25 at 12:30 p.m. at the emetery. The public is invited. The ceremony
will include a color guard, bagpiper, and remarks from post members. Vietnam
War veterans buried in the cemetery and members of the post interred
elsewhere will be honored with a special salute. This year's ceremony will
also include recognition of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of
Chalmette National Cemetery in May 1864.

Volunteers are needed to assist staff and volunteers from Jean Lafitte
National Historical Park and Preserve and The National WWII Museum in
support of Memorial Day. Volunteers should call 504-281-0511 extension 32 to
sign up for the Memorial Day volunteer projects. Volunteers are welcome to
work as little or as much of these projects as they like.

On May 23, flags will be put at every headstone in the cemetery. The project
begins at 7:30 a.m. and will continue until the job is done, usually three
to four hours. The project requires walking and bending over. Volunteers
will be outdoors in possible hot, humid, and buggy conditions and should be
prepared with sunscreen, insect repellent, and closed-toe shoes.

On May 27, the flags will be picked up and repackaged for storage. The
project begins at 7:30 a.m. and will continue until the job is done, usually
three to four hours. Picking up the flags requires walking and bending over.
The repackaging of the flags requires sitting and rolling the flags for
storage.

Volunteers will be outdoors in possible hot, humid, and buggy conditions and
should be prepared with sunscreen, insect repellent, and closed-toe shoes.

The visitor center and entrance gates to the battlefield and national
cemetery are open Tuesday-Saturday and on Memorial Day 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The
visitor center is closed Sunday-Monday and on federal holidays other than
Memorial Day, but entrance gates are open on these days 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Admission is free.