The teens, from Middletown and Washingtonville high schools, joined county officials and members of the Nam Knights. 

Flags were placed on graves at the Orange County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Goshen.  

“Having Veterans Day coming up, we get to come respect the veterans,” says Middletown ROTC member Raymond Zayas. “When people come in here, they get to see that not only are there flags for each and every veteran, but there are cadets and kids doing it. So, we are still showing respect.” 

County Executive Steve Neuhaus, who is also a commander in the U.S. Navy, joined volunteers. 

Neuhaus said it’s important to remember our veterans and their sacrifices every day – not just on Veterans Day. 

“They say you can die twice,” Neuhaus says. “Once when you die and the second, when people forget you. These American flags are remembering the sacrifice that the men and women behind me made to keep us free.” 

Dozens of Orange County ROTC students helped place nearly 4,000 flags on the graves of veterans today.