This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Bluffdale • It was a red, white, blue and gray Memorial Day at the Bluffdale Cemetery, where patriotism prevailed over stormy skies.
After days of rain, the sun peeked out a bit as hundreds of residents gathered to honor veterans of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War in a ceremony organized by Riverton American Legion Post 140.
"We owe it to the veterans," said Denny Neilson , who organized the program. "They would do it for us if they were still here.
"It seems like there's fewer of us and fewer of us every year, but those of us who are still around try our best just to honor those veterans."
Neilson served as a corporal in the Army as the Korean War wound down. His brother, Jay, was deployed to Vietnam as an Army major.
"We do this every year to salute the veterans who have died and remember those who are still serving," said Jay Neilson. "Utahns have always been willing to serve. There's 101 veterans in this little cemetery, if you can believe that."
The half-hour ceremony offered a slice of pure Americana. The crowd ranged from senior citizens with walkers to infants in strollers. The program included patriotic music — from "God Bless America" to taps — and poetry readings by Denny Neilson.
Jay Neilson read the names of all the veterans buried in the Bluffdale Cemetery.
As the veterans in the honor guard fired a three-gun salute, young children rushed to grab the fallen shell casings. And a couple of startled babies cried from the noise.
The cemetery was festooned with 103 full-size American flags that 17-year-old Alex Thornley had placed as his Eagle Scout project. He dug holes and poured concrete to create permanent spots so that the flag standards he had put together could be used year after year.
"It took me about a month and a half," Thornley said. "I'm really happy with it. ... It's really important to honor our vets. That's one reason I did the project. I thought it would be really cool to do more to honor them for what they've done to serve their country."
Veterans praised his work.
"The fellow that put these flags up has just enhanced it so much," said Jay Neilson. "And it's nice for us to see the younger generation honor their fathers and grandfathers — to know that this will continue after we're gone."