A Congers Boy Scout troop placed flags at the graves of veterans in Rockland County in honor of Memorial Day Sunday.

Gethsemane Cemetery in Congers is looking a bit more patriotic just in time for Memorial Day thanks to Congers Boy Scout Troop 29. A handful of Scouts from the group came together Sunday morning to show their respect and honor fallen veterans and first responders.

"We have them broken up into sections so each Scout stays socially distanced from other Scouts and they're doing one row at a time, replacing old flags and putting new flags out," says Congers Troop 29 Scout Master Anthony Mancino.

It's a tradition the troop has been doing for the last six years after taking over duties for the Congers Veterans Memorial Association.

"One of the most important things that the BSA does is efforts to try to remember veterans, and we do this so we can say to those veterans that have passed away you are not forgotten, we still remember," says Congers Troop 29 Eagle Scout Charlie Hayden.

The group says their efforts are especially important during Memorial Day weekend.

"We think it's important for the boys to understand the real meaning of Memorial Day...a lot of people get lost in the unofficial start to summer and barbecues and things like that, but it's really important that they understand that we celebrate this holiday for people who put their lives out for this country and died for the country..." says Mancino.

The troop usually does even more to celebrate the holiday, but had to cancel some of their plans due to COVID-19.

"We just really thought that this was something that we wanted to keep up, we didn't want to cancel this as well. You shouldn't cancel Memorial Day because of what's going on with COVID-19 and the coronavirus," says Mancino.

The troop usually invites the Congers Cub Scout pack and Girl Scout troop as well, but wanted to limit the amount of people this year to make sure they were able to practice social distancing during the event.

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