A 48-Star flag flew at this year’s Memorial Day Service at Prairie Lawn Cemetery.

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The annual Wellington Memorial Day Service was held at Prairie Lawn Cemetery this wet Monday morning.

The event featured something you don’t see anymore — a 48-star flag.

Jerrod Hays, the Commander of the Wellington VFW Post, told those in attendance that the flag was flown during World War II – which occurred before Alaska and Hawaii were made states.

Sue Denny of Wellington donated the flag to the Post. Her uncle, Don Denny, flew this flag on board the USS New Mexico during the Pacific Operation in WWII. The USS New Mexico was dubbed “The Queen of the Fleet” and used in short bombardments for Attu and Kiska, Tarawa, Luzon, and Okinawa, just to name a few.

“She was attacked by kamikazes on several different occasions, earning a total of six battle stars,” Hays said of the ship. “Please pay respect to her, for this may be the last time she flies.”

Hays said the flag will be encased and displayed in the near future at the Wellington VFW.

Katie Boston was the featured speaker.

This year’s feature speaker was Katie Boston of the Derby VFW. She served with distinction in the U.S. Air Force for 15 years. During her military career, she participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2008 to 2009 and then again in Iraq in 2011.

She was an analyst for the Theater Aerial Reconnaissance System, which gave commanders real-time information on the enemy’s strengths, locations, dispositions, and intentions.

The annual placing of the wreaths and bell salutes was conducted by the organizations, andthe  war veterans recognized were:

•American Legion Post #90.

•Sons of the American Legion.

•American Legion Auxiliary.

•Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #881.

•Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.

Amer. Legion Post 90 Rifle team.

•World War I.

•World War II.

•Korean War Veterans.

•Vietnam War Veterans.

•Operation Urgent Fury – Grenada.

•Operation Just Cause – Panama.

•Operation Desert Storm and Gulf War Veterans.

•Operation Gothic Serpent – Mogadishu.

•Operation Allied Force – Kosovo.

•Afghanistan Veterans.

•Iraqi War Veterans.

•40 & 8.

•8 & 40.

•Junior Auxiliary AL Post #90.

•Humane Society – Service Animals.

Melanie Dawson Cox provided the National Anthem and Taps.

For all the pictures of the event, click here.