By Brenna R. Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Rex Graft knows his father's and brother's graves in Arlington National Cemetery are decorated with American flags on Memorial Day. It's the graves of local veterans he's concerned about.

IF YOU GO

What: Decorating veterans' graves for Memorial Day. When: 9 a.m. Saturday Where: Floral Hills Cemetery, 5336 Old Taylor Mill Road; St. John's Cemetery, 1 St. Johns Road; St. Mary's Cemetery, 2201 Dixie Highway; Mother of God Cemetery, 2701 Latonia Ave.; Linden Grove Cemetery 1421 Holman Ave., Covington; Independence Cemetery, 2167 Dixie Highway; St. Cecilia, 5313 Madison Pike.

"I want every veteran's grave decorated," said Graft, a resident of Hebron. "It's all about honoring the service."

To make sure that happens, Graft leads a volunteer effort to mark each veteran's grave in Kenton County cemeteries with an American flag for the Memorial Day holiday.

On Saturday morning, at least 75 volunteers plan to spread out through seven cemeteries looking for headstones that indicate the deceased was a service member.

On Thursday, Graft delivered 3,200 flags to the cemeteries in preparation for Saturday's decorating, which is sponsored by Independence American Legion Post 275.

This year, graves at Floral Hills, St. John's, St. Mary's, Mother of God, Linden Grove, and St. Cecilia's cemeteries will be decorated. Anyone who wants to help decorate graves can go to one of the cemeteries at 9 a.m. Saturday, Graft said. Volunteers are particularly needed at Linden Grove Cemetery in Covington, he said.

Graft, a member of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 275, said he has helped mark the graves for Memorial Day for five years as a way to honor his father and brother.

Graft's father was an Army officer who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. His brother was a helicopter pilot in the Army when he died in a civilian plane crash in 1969.

The recent war in Iraq and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have sparked a new patriotism in people, he said.

"A lot of people have picked up the banner this year," Graft said. "There's a bit more respect for veterans right now."

In addition to the American Legion, volunteers from the Boy Scouts, Civil Air Patrol and Jobs Daughters are also participating in grave decorating.

E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com