Memorial Day Flag Planting
The American Civil War represented an unprecedented conflict in the United States, and it claimed more lives than any other U.S. war. Many lost loved ones whom they sought to honor and remember, and people often showed their love by laying flowers on their soldiers’ graves.
Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, is a day to honor members of the military who were killed in service, both during deployments overseas or in training and service in the U.S. Across the country, Americans spend the day visiting cemeteries, attending Memorial Day events and otherwise honoring those who lost their lives in service to the country.
Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades.
Memorial Day Flag Planting, SF Presidio - 2025
The 2025 Flag Planting ceremony honoring and mourning U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces is scheduled for Saturday, May 24, 2025, at the San Francisco National Cemetery in the Presidio. All leaders and Scouts should be in full uniform for the event. Scouts might consider bringing drinking water, using sunscreen, and dressing in layers to be prepared for various types of weather.
This event is an official community service project for all Scouting Units. Please remember to register your service hours in Internet Advancement.
There will be a presentation by a Veteran as well as a Scouter talking to the scouts about sensitive subjects centered around service, sacrifice, death, suicide, resilience, and determination. They will not discuss in graphic detail but it is worth noting the topics may be covered as part of sharing their experiences.
Logistics: The event begins promptly at 0900hrs and will conclude by 1100hrs. Please ensure your arrival by 0845hrs.
Location: 1 Lincoln Blvd., Presidio of San Francisco.
Process: Registration is required for this event and is free of charge. Please RSVP here to confirm your or your units attendance.
Parking: Parking is available outside the cemetery only. Please factor walk time into your planning.
Weather: It's San Francisco, so the weather can be unpredictable, dressing in layers is always encouraged.
Patches will be given to unit leaders for distribution to scouts when they desire; we will not be distributing them individually. Please ensure you provide exact numbers to ensure we have sufficient on hand.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
John McCrae, 1915
