Although the coronavirus pandemic has limited many events over the past two months, the Katy Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9182 found a way over the Memorial Day weekend to honor the military personnel who have died.
On May 23, about 32 people placed 472 American Flags and a Confederate flag on veterans’ graves at Katy Magnolia Cemetery, 6801 Franz Road, Katy, said Don Byrne, the commander of Katy VFW Post 9182, in an email.
Katy Mayor Bill Hastings and Katy Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris attended along with Sea Cadets, their parents and VFW members, Byrne and Harris said.
On May 25, the VFW Post also held a short Memorial Day service at its location at 6206 George Bush Drive, Katy. The service honored members of the local post who have died since the last Memorial Day, Byrne said. The VFW post also recognized Delores Brown, the living wife of Tuskegee Airman and retired Air Force Maj. Larry Brown Jr. who the VFW honored last year. Additionally, the May 25 event included a flag ceremony and a prayer.
“It was a short and somber occasion taking into account the need for social distancing,” Byrne said of the service. “This event was a substitute to our annual event held at Katy Magnolia Cemetery, which we canceled due to the social distancing needs and the number of most vulnerable folks, those most likely to catch the virus, who might try to attend.”
About 30-40 people attended the ceremony, including local officials, Byrne said.
Other events were held across the city of Katy in honor of Memorial Day, including three flag ceremonies performed by the American Legion Post 164 at Katy City Hall, the Katy Police Department and the Katy Fire Department, per a May 25 Facebook post.
