Nine members of the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club proudly joined hundreds of Rotarians from across District 5340 to participate in the second annual Operation Flags for Vets at Miramar National Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
Club members Art and Marilyn Jones, Marla Elliott, Jeff Dasch, Jan Dickieson and Don Sine, Ralph and Karen Hirschmann, and Laura Lingardo helped place thousands of American flags at the gravesites of veterans as part of this deeply moving Memorial Day tradition.
Unlike other national cemeteries, Miramar has not historically received federal funding for Memorial Day flag placement. Rotary stepped up to fill that gap, placing approximately 20,000 flags in coordination with cemetery leadership and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Organized by the Rotary District 5340 Military Coordinating Committee (DMCC), this initiative ensures that each veteran interred at Miramar is honored with a flag—expanding the tradition long held at Fort Rosecrans to include this newer cemetery.
Flags will remain in place through Memorial Day weekend, creating a poignant and inspiring backdrop for ceremonies held on May 25 and 26. Volunteers will return on Tuesday, May 27, to remove and store the flags for future use.
Encinitas Coastal Rotary is proud to support this important and solemn effort to remember and honor our nation’s heroes. To learn more about the project or to make a donation, visit: https://rotarydistrict5340dmcc.com/upcoming-events/operation-flags-for-vets-2025.