Honoring those who served: Couple repairs military graves at Belle Vernon Cemetery
Barry Couser, left, and Judi Wyndroski, both of Webster, look over a veteran’s grave at Belle Vernon Cemetery. The couple has worked to repair or replace flags and markers for veterans buried there.
Mark Hofmann/For the O-R
Mark Hofmann/For the Observer-Reporter
Judi Wyndroski hands Barry Couser a replacement flag for a veteran’s grave at Belle Vernon Cemetery where they have worked to repair or replace flags and markers for over a month.
Mark Hofmann/For the Observer-Reporter
Judi Wyndroski of Webster hammers in a marker at a veteran’s grave Tuesday morning.
Mark Hofmann/For the Observer-Reporter
Barry Couser of Webster walks through the Belle Vernon Cemetery, seeking out any damaged or misplaced markers or flags on veterans’ graves.
Barry Couser of Webster spruces up a veteran's veteran in Belle Vernon Cemetery.
Mark Hofmann/For the Observer-Reporter
Judi Wyndroski of Webster looks for flags or markers on veterans’ graves that may be damaged or misplaced at Belle Vernon Cemetery.
A simple walk for a Webster couple has turned into a quest to honor those who served their country.
About a month and a half ago, Barry Couser, 82, and his girlfriend, Judi Wyndroski, started walking the grounds of the Belle Vernon Cemetery in North Belle Vernon in the morning. It was a way, said Couser, to help ease the symptoms of his arthritis.
“I saw a broken flag, so I took it home and fixed it,” Couser said Tuesday, referring to the American flags that are attached to metal holders on veterans’ graves. “We came back, found another one, so I took that home to fix it, and that’s how it started.”
Wyndroski said if a flag is hanging from its rod, they’ll staple the flag back on; if the flag is too damaged to be repaired, they’ll replace it with a new flag and dispose of the damaged flag by burning it, which is the way to properly retire a flag.
Couser said other repairs have included reshaping the metal markers, straightening the metal posts or doing a little painting. The costs of those small repairs started to add up quickly.
Fortunately, word of the couple’s daily routine spread and others stepped forward to help. The Westmoreland County Office of Veterans Affairs provided them with free holders and markers, the Belle Vernon American Legion gave them replacement flags, and Lowe’s in Belle Vernon offered the couple free materials to make other repairs.
“We met some nice people and found some interesting things,” Couser said.
They’ve recognized incorrect military service designations on markers and fixed them. In one instance, the couple moved a military marker from the grave of a 4-year-old girl to its rightful place on the grave next to it.
“I say to them, ‘Buddy, you have the right flag now,'” Couser said.
While they didn’t keep count of how many flags they’ve replaced or repairs they’ve made, the couple estimated they’ve done about 100. They’ve now started using a book to track which markers and flags they’re repairing, noting the grave location and military branch in which the person served.
Couser said they’ll continue to walk the cemetery grounds and tend to the flags and markers that need it, even after they go through every section and make every replacement or complete every repair, as long as the weather is nice and there is a need for them to do so.
About 3,500 veterans have been laid to rest in Belle Vernon Cemetery’s 42 acres, and Wyndroski said she and Couser both believe all of the veterans should have a resting place that honors their service.
“They fought for our country and for us to have freedom, and they deserve this,” said Wyndroski, whose father, grandfather and six brothers and former husband were all in the military.
As to their unprompted kindness, “We don’t need a pat on the back,” said Couser, a veteran of the U.S. Army who served from 1958 to 1962 and earned the rank E-4 (Enlisted 4).
“All of our thanks comes from these guys,” said Wyndroski, waving her arm across the field of flags.