This tradition dates back more than 50 years, started by the late “Butch” Leonberg. It has been carried forward all the ensuing years by Butch, and now his oldest son Jeff. Although Memorial Day is set aside to honor the fallen in our nation’s Armed Forces, it is an appropriate time of year to place a firefighter’s flag, which often goes hand-in-hand with the fresh American flags placed at so many graves. So many of our members also served in the Armed Forces, too.

The Life Members of Mars VFC, Valencia VFC, and Adams Area Fire District are memorialized. A total of 218 were placed in 12 cemeteries in Butler and Allegheny Counties, with 143 in Mars Cemetery alone. This year’s crew: Jeff Leonberg, Taylor Goodlin, Gary McCormick, Ryan Rahall, Doug Mellenger, Tyler Butterworth and (not shown in photos) Joe Bauer. 🇺🇸