A pair of outreach efforts undertaken by Newport News shipbuilders recently paid tribute to the final resting places of fallen veterans.

Members of the Veterans Employee Resource Group (VERG) spent April 27 cleaning headstones at the West Point and Calvary cemeteries in Norfolk. It was done in conjunction with By Memorial Day, a nationwide volunteer effort to clean veteran headstones at private cemeteries.

VERG was able to clean approximately 175 veteran headstones between the two cemeteries.

The West Point and Cavalry cemeteries were selected based on their historical significance to the African American community in Norfolk. During the Civil War, African American soldiers could enlist into the Union army from this area as the Union re-occupied the Hampton Roads region.

Lindsey Renee Schweitzer (O53) is a new NNS employee who served in the Navy. She said the experience was “a meaningful way to both connect with other NNS employees while also taking time to remember and appreciate those who fought for our freedom before us.”

She added: “As a veteran myself, I feel a strong connection and sense of commitment to continue honoring and serving the military-veteran community.”

Ross Tomlin (T53), another veteran, said that “being able to pay respect to those veterans who served before me is the ultimate form of gratitude. Ahead of Memorial Day, ensuring these veterans are afforded remembrance that time or distance may have forgotten will always resonate with me.”

After the Norfolk event, the group turned its attention to Newport News.

VERG members and their families, American Legion Post 25 and other organizations teamed up to place American flags on the graves of veterans at Peninsula Memorial Park for Memorial Day. The flags symbolize the care and respect that shipbuilders and others show to men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom.