Veterans laid to rest at Hillside Cemetery in Clarendon now have a new memorial in their honor.
Eagle Scout candidate Jacob Crandall and fellow members of Boy Scout Troop 59 gathered during Memorial Day observances May 30 to dedicate the Hillside Cemetery Memorial, which is Jacob’s Eagle project.
The new memorial is located just north of the former memorial flag pole and includes a new, 30 foot spun aluminum flag pole with a pentagon-shaped concrete base inlayed with five granite stones representing each branch of the U.S. Military.
Jacob’s dad, John Crandall, a veteran of Desert Storm and Afghanistan, said the community can take pride in the new monument. “The flag pole will be visible to anyone visiting the cemetery,” Crandall said, as well as to motorists driving by.
Crandall noted the history of the original flag pole, which was erected 46 years ago by the family of Paul Mandracchia, a soldier from Holley who was killed in action during the Vietnam War.
Mandracchia’s father wanted to honor Paul and other soldiers who had given their lives in service to their country, Crandall explained.
“It has watched over the many who have been laid to rest here,” Crandall said of the original flag pole.
Following the traditional Memorial Day ceremonies in the veteran’s section of the cemetery, the flag was lowered from the old memorial and presented to Paul Mandracchia’s niece, Sara Mandracchia, who said she was honored to receive it.
A new flag was then raised for the first time on the new flag pole. John and Jacob Crandall first raised the flag to full-staff and then lowered it to half-staff for the Memorial Day observance.
Many residents and local businesses made donations to make the project possible. The Crandalls especially thanked Clarendon Historian Melissa Ierlan, “for your guidance and dedication to our community.”
