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 Lincoln County High School student Baylor Mattingly, who is also a 2019 Rogers Scholar, is honoring all veterans who served their country to protect America’s freedom.

In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, Mattingly placed miniature stick flags at the graves of 244 veterans buried in Hustonville Cemetery in Lincoln County.

The placement of the flags on veterans’ graves was part of her “Honoring Those Who Have Served” Rogers Scholars community service project.

“With my love for the Civil Air Patrol, I greatly appreciate our military and veterans,” Mattingly said. “My local cemetery has never placed flags on the veterans’ graves, so I thought it was time to honor them. My great-grandpa served in World War II and has passed away, and I also wanted to honor him.”

In addition to the grave marker stick flags, Mattingly purchased a larger American flag for the cemetery’s flagpole and recorded the names of all of the veterans buried at Hustonville Cemetery on large poster boards. She also raised money to help cover the costs of mowing and other cemetery expenses.

The miniature flags were placed on the veterans’ graves approximately one week before Memorial Day in time for visitors to view the tribute during the holiday weekend. Those who visited the cemetery expressed their gratitude. “Thank you very much. We greatly appreciate it,” one cemetery visitor was heard saying.

Each graduate of The Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars program is required to complete a community service project. For more information about Rogers Scholars, visit www.centeryouthprograms.com.