WAUKESHA, Wis. — A group of students and graduates from Waukesha Transitional Academy is helping the Waukesha VFW carry on a decades-long tradition of placing flags on the graves of veterans ahead of Memorial Day. The VFW has made it its mission for decades to place flags on the graves of those who served. Every year, they put the flags on veterans' graves at Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha.
A few years ago, they realized they could not do it alone. That is when students from Waukesha Transitional Academy stepped up.
"We like to help out and do service," student Nathan Meech said.
"People have served, and we should honor them," former student Nathan Stankowski said.
For student Michaela Faulk, the work is personal.
"My mom was in the Air Force, and today I wanted to help the veterans who have passed on," Faulk said.
The partnership between the school and the VFW dates back to 2007, when Susan Blohm, then a teacher in Waukesha, reached out to the VFW commander after hearing they needed help.
"He just said, ‘We really could use your help. We are getting too old, especially in the hill area, and it takes us way too long to get the flags out,” Blohm said.
Even though some of the students have their own mobility issues, that has not stopped them from showing up.
Watch: Waukesha students help VFW place flags on veterans' graves ahead of Memorial Day
That original VFW commander has since passed away, and Blohm has retired, but she continues to volunteer alongside current and former students.
Paul Zinck of the Waukesha VFW said the tradition carries deep historical meaning.
"Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, and that was what it was all about to decorate the graves of the fallen, and so tradition that we follow even today," Zinck said.
Even with some veterans able to come out and volunteer, the VFW is grateful for the students' help.
"I love to do it," former student Garret Crowe said.
The group is working to place 2,000 flags on graves.
"It is a wonderful thing. It is a total win-win for everybody," Blohm said. "I'm extremely proud of them."
Zinck also works with the American Legion, which will be placing flags on graves Saturday at St. Joseph's Cemetery.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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