Boy & Cub Scouts Place Flags at Decatur Cemetery for Veteran’s Day
Decatur Metro | November 5, 2016 | 10:06 am
Eric writes in…
This morning, Boy Scout troop 175 and Cub Scout pack 175 planted American flags at the graves of all the veterans buried in Decatur Cemetery.Special thanks to Chick fil-A for providing chicken biscuits, coffee and hot chocolate for the troops.
Thanks Eric and all the Decatur Scouts involved in this important activity. I’ll be sure stop by my parents grave (Second Lieutenant Joseph Wilson Billingsley, Medical Corp, World War II and Loretta Kobylarz Billingsley) and take a few pictures to share with my family.
One of the most interesting veterans you honored (I hope) was Private Jimmy Jones, who is buried under a very simple marker near the Matt Rose monument (Edward Matt Rose was killed in action in 1944. The Rose Family monument is one of the most beautiful ones in the new cemetery). Jimmy R. Jones, known as “The General” and the last Confederate soldier buried in the City of Decatur Cemetery was a strong supporter of our effort to defeat Germany and Japan during World War II. I sent Nick several pictures of Jimmy Jones with one showing him standing next to a local American sailor who was killed in the Pacific theater shortly after the picture was taken. You can read about “The General here: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=54696027&PIpi=101357037
As difficult as it must have been, Jimmy Jones (1845-1945) learned to forgive and became a symbol of reconciliation and patriotism. Let’s hope we can do the same after Tuesday’s election.
Troop and Pack 134 also participated. This is a great Decatur tradition and way to honor those who gave the last full measure of devotion, sacrificing their lives for our freedom and democracy.