SALUTING VETERANS GRAVE SITE FLAGS HONOR SACRIFICES.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer WESTLAKE VILLAGE - Ten-year-old Dylan Taylor crouched crouch v. crouched, crouch·ing, crouch·es v.intr. 1. a. To stoop, especially with the knees bent: crouched over the grate, searching for his keys. over a headstone and carefully pushed the wooden pole of a small American flag into the wet ground. He then stood up straight and offered a formal salute. As part of an annual Memorial Day observance at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park, Dylan and dozens of other Westlake Village Boy Scouts from Troops 3775 and 227 planted the flags on headstones early Saturday morning in honor of America's veterans. And for the first time, area Girl Scouts Girl Scouts, recreational and service organization founded (1912) in Savannah, Ga., by Mrs. Juliette Gordon Low (1860–1927). It was originally modeled after the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, organizations created in Great Britain by Sir Robert Baden-Powell during joined in, until the lush green slope became a sea of stars and stripes Stars and Stripes nickname for the U.S. flag. [Am. Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 8567] See : America in red, white and blue. ``I think it's really good to know your past, to know who all the people are who died for your country,'' Dylan said. In little more than an hour, most of the headstones had been decorated dec·o·rate tr.v. dec·o·rat·ed, dec·o·rat·ing, dec·o·rates 1. To furnish, provide, or adorn with something ornamental; embellish. 2. so that by the time 9-year-old Brandon Woodward and his father Rob reached the top of the slope and looked back, they saw at least 500 flags flapping A condition in which a route in a network becomes unavailable and available over and over again. See route dampening. in the wind. At least 80 percent of those buried in the cemetery's Garden of Valor valor a rodenticide no longer marketed because of toxicity in horses causing dehydration, abdominal pain, hindlimb weakness, inappetence, fishy smell in urine. Called also N-3-pyridyl methyl N1-p-nitrophenyl urea. are veterans. For father and son, this year's Memorial Day will hold more significance. Brandon's grandfather Bruce Woodward, a U.S. Air Force and Army veteran of World War II, died last year. He was 77. ``It's really an honor to be doing this,'' Rob Woodward said. Both he and Brandon said they were learning about America's past through the information on the headstones. Earlier, they had seen the headstone of another veteran, a woman who had died at the age of 102. ``The headstones show us a range of emotions,'' Rob Woodward said. ``They speak of what we go through when we live, then die.'' More importantly, the annual exercise teaches the Scouts that though they are young, they too can serve their country by remembering those who fought in America's wars. Nine-year-old Geoffrey Sebold said he had participated in the event last year, but noticed that something had changed. ``There are way more headstones this year than last year,'' he said. Brownie brownie, in Celtic folklore, household spirit associated with farmsteads. Brownies help with chores, but, if criticized, they will make mischief, such as spoiling crops. If payment other than food is offered a brownie, he vanishes from a farm forever. Scouts from Troops 433 and 971 combed comb n. 1. a. A thin toothed strip, as of plastic, used to smooth, arrange, or fasten the hair. b. An implement, such as a card for dressing and cleansing wool or other fiber, that resembles a hair comb in shape or the grounds, searching for headstones the Boy Scouts may have missed, especially women veterans who might be overlooked. ``We told them to look for those who served in all branches, including police and fire department,'' said Troop Leader Debbie Prince. ``This brings back the true meaning of Memorial Day,'' said Bill McAfee, who with his 9-year-old son James finished planting flags along the edges of the cemetery. ``It's a small thing we can do.'' CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Cub Scout Braden Blake carries flags to place on graves Saturday at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park. (2) Brownie Heather Buchanan, 7, carries an armful of American flags to place on the headstones of veterans Saturday. (3) Cub Scout James McAfee, 9, salutes after placing a flag on a veteran's grave at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park. (4) Cub Scout Dillon Lucas, left, places a flag on a grave while fellow Scout Richard Avery and Dillon's brother Austin Lucas help. Michael Owen
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