Woodlawn’s anonymous patriot

At first the American flags began to appear at the gravesites of veterans along the boulevard near the entrance of Woodlawn Cemetery. Then they began to pop up next to the headstones of other veterans in different areas of the cemetery.

“There’s been no particular order,” said Anthony “Tiger” Istre of Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home.

For the past few months, well-constructed American flags have been randomly appearing next to the final resting places of veterans in the cemetery south of Crowley. And nobody seems to have a clue as to who is placing them there.

“It seems to be someone who is very patriotic who wishes to remain anonymous,” said Istre. “They don’t appear to want any recognition.”

Istre said that whoever is placing the flags is not simply sticking the pole in the ground. Each of the flag poles is planted fairly deeply into the ground with the flags attached tightly.

“There is no bend in those poles whatsoever,” said Istre. “Whoever is doing this is spending some money.”

Not that anyone is complaining. In fact, Istre said that people have been calling in requesting that the flags be placed next to the graves of their loved ones.

“I don’t know what to tell them,” laughed Istre.

Whoever is placing the flags is obviously going out of his/her way to avoid detection.

“It’s either being done late at night or very early in the morning,” said Istre.

So until the person responsible for the flags comes forward, it appears that the mystery of the flags in Woodlawn Cemetery will remain. And whoever is placing them there will remain anonymous, having avoided the recognition that they obviously hope to bestow on Acadia Parish’s deceased veterans.