A nonprofit continues to keep the memories of the fallen alive as they work to revive a cemetery.
SCRANTON, Pa. — American flags were placed at the graves of service men and women at Washburn Street Cemetery in Scranton.
Amy Cusick, founder of the nonprofit Christmas Miracles From Heaven, said the group maintains and cares for the cemetery, which was once left unkempt. “This place just went untouched for many, many years, and I thought, ‘Why can’t we be the ones to do something? Why can’t we be the change?’” Cusick said. “All it takes is one person to change something.”
This story continues below.
Members of VFW Post 3451 in Scranton led the Memorial Day ceremony, providing a 21-gun salute. Commander Jerry O’Malley said the ceremony is just one of nearly a dozen the group has been part of this Memorial Day.
“It means a great deal to us for the lost veterans who have gone before us and given the ultimate sacrifice,” O’Malley said. “That means everything to us.”
The nonprofit revived the Memorial Day service last year to make sure every person buried here is remembered for their service.
“I just believe that these families deserve that, that these people who are resting here deserve that,” Cusick said. “Especially, you know, I didn’t realize it at the time until you maintain a cemetery and you see the same stones over and over again. There are many, many veterans here.”
Those who care for the grounds said that as another Memorial Day comes and passes, the memories of those laid to rest here will live on.
“You’re cutting the grass, and you see the veterans, or even just the regular people who are civilians,” Cusick said. “You stop and think, ‘What was the story behind this person? What was this person like? What did they go through in World War II? What did they go through in the Vietnam War?’”