The New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery was abuzz with activity Friday with a full interment schedule and the start of the Memorial Day weekend.
Cemetery employee Jonathan Tamblyn was directing visitors arriving at the main entrance.
“Good afternoon sir, are you here for a visit or a service?” he asked one driver.
Matt Crowley and Jeff Ford were replacing sections of sod that had been torn up to repair an underground water pipe. Shane Boudreau delivered floral displays to the site of a burial ceremony.
“The whole staff’s been working hard to get the graves back to our standard,” said director Michael Horne.
Once spring arrives, employees get to work setting headstones that could not be installed during the winter, sod graves, painting new pavement lines and landscaping work on trees and flower beds.
Just before Memorial Day weekend hits, the lawns are mowed and trimmed in preparation for the placement of American flags. The flags stand as a symbol of gratitude for the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
On Thursday, about 40 to 50 volunteers helped place those flags.
It’s the busiest time of year for the state cemetery, and staff will be on hand all weekend to help navigate and answer questions for visitors.
On normal business weeks, the office is staffed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.