Long may it wave: Funeral home manager raises flags for veterans one last time

Dale Buster walks through Hillcrest Memorial Park on Thursday, placing U.S. flags at the gravestones of military veterans in preparation for Memorial Day. This marks the 25th and final year Buster will be setting up the flags.
Dale Buster walks through Hillcrest Memorial Park on Thursday, placing U.S. flags at the gravestones of military veterans in preparation for Memorial Day. This marks the 25th and final year Buster will be setting up the flags.

American flags, large and small, waved in the breeze Thursday morning at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

And the man responsible for placing the flags there hopes they remind everyone that passes of the real meaning behind Memorial Day.

Dale Buster, manager of Texarkana Funeral Home, has made sure Hillcrest is decked out in flags every Memorial Day for the last 25 years.

"These veterans have served our country, and we have to remember that and recognize it," Buster said.

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"My goal was to have the complete cemetery decorated in flags. Some of them are flying 8 feet high. It's a sight to see," he said.

Besides the large flags adorning the cemetery, Buster makes sure the grave of each veteran also has its own American flag. Close to 1,500 flags were put on veterans' graves Thursday at Hillcrest.

"It's just something that's dear to my heart. I grew up an Air Force brat. My dad was an Air Force veteran," he said.

Buster is usually assisted each year by the Texarkana Genealogy Society and the Hooks, Texas, High School agriculture department.

"It's rewarding," he said. "Over the years, I've done this in all kinds of weather. I've been out there in my rain slicker."

After 47 years in the funeral industry, 33 of those years with Texarkana Funeral Home, Buster will soon be retiring. 

And someone else will take over flag duty next Memorial Day.

"This is my silver anniversary, so it's time to retire from it. It's been an honor to do this. But it's time to pass it on," Buster said.

Texarkana Funeral Home's Memorial Day service will be 1 p.m. Monday at Hillcrest Memorial Park on U.S. Highway 67 West. 

Master of Ceremonies will be Dr. Jerry Creek, U.S. Army Reserve chaplain, and guest speaker will be Wake Village Police Chief Ronny Sharp. Texarkana, Texas, Police Department Honor Guard will do a 21-gun salute and perform taps.

The public is invited to attend.

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