The final resting place of many who volunteered to fight and died for this country needs volunteers to honor the men and women buried there.

Vicksburg National Military Park is seeking help placing almost 20,000 American flags Vicksburg National Cemetery for Memorial Day, ranger Tim Kavanaugh said.

“The 20,000 flags give testimony to what and for whom these brave soldiers, sailors Marines and airmen fought, from the Mexican War up through Vietnam,” Kavanaugh said.

Those interested in volunteering should meet at the USS Cairo parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Friday. The Fort Hill Gate will be opened at 7 a.m. for volunteers willing to help place the flags, Kavanaugh said.

Volunteers are encouraged to dress in cool, comfortable clothing, and shoes suitable for walking through the uneven and hilly terrain of the cemetery.

“Bring and use sunscreen and bring a refillable water bottle. We will have jugs of ice water to fill and refill those water bottles. Placing the flags takes about two and a half hours,” Kavanuagh said.

Of course there are a few oddities in the placing of the flags. In addition to the American flags, two First National Confederate Flags and an Australian flag will be placed on graves.

Pvt. Reuben White, Company D, 19th Texas Infantry and Sgt. C.B. Brantley of Arkansas were both mistakenly buried in the cemetery after dying in Union-run hospitals.

Edgar H. Hawther of the Royal Australian Air Force was buried in the cemetery after being killed in a plane crash with U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Wilson C. Carter of Jackson. The plane crashed Oct. 16, 1942, and their remains were discovered during the war but could not be separated.

For more information, call the park at 601-636-0583.