Post conducts grave registration

Each fall during preparation for Veterans Day, Kaiserslautern Post GR01 conducts grave registration throughout the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC) in Germany. KMC includes the cities of Kaiserslautern, Ramstein and several smaller communities in the area. To register a grave, a U.S. flag is placed on the graves of U.S. veterans, their family members, and any other U.S. personnel buried in the cemeteries. Detailed information is retained so the grave can be found in future years. All previous flags are collected and replaced with new flags, and the removed flags are retained and burned during a flag retirement ceremony on the following Flag Day in June.

Post GR01 Commander Demetrius R. White led the Grave Registration program this year with the assistance of comrades Michael Young, Joseph Chonko, Robert Leist, David Sears and Djuan Stenson. They recruited several private organizations and members of the community to participate in the program honor deceased veterans and their families. Some of the private organizations included the Boy Scouts of America, the Germany Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the Germany Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The 2012 Grave Registration started at the Kaiserslautern City Cemetery on Oct. 6, with more volunteers than the post has had in recent years. The Kappas and Deltas brought their families and friends to support the cause. Partnering in community service has been the key to this program’s success, so Post GR01 would like to thank all participants for their hard work and dedication to its community and deceased veterans.