THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505190445
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Twenty-two British sailors buried far from home more than 50 years ago in an isolated plot at the rear of Evergreen Cemetery finally will get the recognition they deserve on Memorial Day.
The Union Jack will be placed on each gravesite for the American observance honoring all who died in military service during wartime. The British colors are courtesy of Dr. Alan Burnett, the lord mayor of Portsmouth, England.
Burnett sent the flags to retired Brig. Gen. Marion H. ``Hank'' Morris, who found the graves when he was looking for the burial sites of Portsmouth's Medal of Honor recipients.
During a recent visit to Virginia, a group of British citizens participated in a World War II ceremony at Veterans Park at the end of High Street. It was then that Morris asked for the flags to adorn the sailors' graves on special days. Portmouth's Lord Mayor responded quickly.
``Members of Post 37 of the American Legion are going to put the flags out,'' Morris said. ``It will make me happy to have them there.''
Morris has pushed for months to get the gravesites cleaned up and, in the process, the Navy decided to purchase a wrought iron fence to mark the site of the sailers resting on foreign soil.
A World War II veteran, Morris said he is anxious to find the families of the men to let them know about the cemetery. All of the men died between 1942 and 1945. MEMO: [For related stories, see microfilm of The Currents for this date.]
by CNB