Volunteers gathered at East View Cemetery in East Lake on Saturday, Veterans Day, to clean and place flags on the graves of veterans buried there.
The group was organized by Chris Purdy with Vets for American Ideals, which is an initiative of Human Rights First. The volunteers were immigrants, refugees, veterans, members of the Peace Corps, students, teachers, families, and children.
The air was brisk, but warm sunlight spilled on the group as they set off across a carpet of autumn leaves, armed with cleaning supplies, maps, and fistfuls of American flags. Some worked in groups, smiling and chatting, while others worked solo. One group read aloud the names on each grave as they worked. When asked why, they said that they wanted to remember that these were real people who lived real lives. Some came to Saturday’s event out of a sense of responsibility, or to honor veteran family members. Some said they came out of respect for our history and those who have made sacrifices for our freedom.
Veteran and volunteer Bill Staton said he was there “because it felt appropriate and necessary.”
APS teacher Amber Stewart smiles at friends as they navigate East View Cemetery together on Saturday. Photo by Greta ReynoldsAtlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen (right) and Tammie Workman work together to clean veteran’s graves at East View Cemetery on Saturday. Photo by Greta ReynoldsArmy veteran, Ethiopian refugee, and college student Robel Moges places American flags on the graves of veterans at East View Cemetery on Saturday. Photo by Greta ReynoldsSyrian refugee Randa Yousseff takes a break from cleaning on Saturday to take a walk with her son at East View Cemetery. Photo by Greta ReynoldsSyrian refugee Taha Youssef places American flags on the graves of veterans at East View Cemetery on Saturday. Photo by Greta ReynoldsVolunteers from New American Pathways work together on Saturday to clean and mark veteran’s graves with American flags. Photo by Greta ReynoldsA young volunteer with the group New American Pathways helps place American flags on the graves of veterans at East View Cemetery on Saturday. Photo by Greta ReynoldsEmory students and members of the Peace Corps scrub a veteran’s grave marker before placing an American flag at its base (from left: Neha Kamat, Erica Mumm, and MacKenzie Leonard). Photo by Greta ReynoldsColin Clark and his 14 year old daughter Beatrix brush dirt and leaves from a veteran’s grave at East View Cemetery on Saturday. Photo by Greta ReynoldsFrom left: Volunteers Robel Moges, Adam Adler, and Bill Staton stop to take a look at a map of the cemetery. Photo by Greta Reynolds.Clean up volunteers follow a map marked with veteran’s graves at East View Cemetery Photo by Greta Reynolds. Photo by Greta ReynoldsVolunteers with Vets for American Ideals gather Saturday, Veterans Day, at East View Cemetery to clean and place American flags on the graves of veterans. Photo by Greta Reynolds