City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department

2024 Cemetery Flags


Our local cemeteries are alive with memories and volunteers can help preserve those memories and experiences. Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, originated years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many people observe the day by visiting cemeteries or memorials and decorating graves.


Flag Placement

 Help us honor men and women who died while serving in the military by placing flags in standards (the stakes that hold the flag into the ground) and preparing for Memorial Day weekend.

Flag Removal

American flags that were placed on veterans' graves prior to Memorial Day now need to be removed and placed into storage.  Each year, the cemetery places over 3,500 flags in the upright veteran's section at Glendale Cemetery in Block 34/35. The flags are removed as part of the decoration removal process.  Once the flags are removed, they are placed in storage to re-use in the future.  The Des Moines Parks and Recreation cemetery staff maintains the placement and removal of flags in Block 34/35.  


Interested in becoming an ongoing cemetery volunteer? Check out our Adopt-a-Block program! More details here: Adopt a Block 



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Our Volunteer Vision is: Together, we grow meaningful community connections that celebrate our diversity, cultivate inclusivity, and inspire shared passion and purpose for enriching Des Moines’ quality of life.
We welcome volunteers of all abilities. If you require specific accommodations to participate, we encourage you to let us know in advance. We will do our best to provide reasonable accommodations to make your experience with us comfortable and rewarding.

To request accommodations or discuss your specific needs, please contact Parks and Recreation Supervisor, Callie Le’au Courtright at parksvolunteer@dmgov.org or call 515-237-1386.
Do you have any access requirements or accommodation requests you'd like us to be aware of? *
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Lunch will be delivered from Palmer's Deli. The options are a sandwich boxed lunch or a salad lunch.
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Palmer's Deli Menu
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For accommodations or allergies, please notify staff in the comments below and contact us at parksvolunteer@dmgov.org or call (515)237-1386 as soon as possible so we can make sure to plan a safe and fun volunteer experience. *
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Do you accept and agree to the attached Permission to Participate, Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement and Photo Release? *

Waiver

In consideration of me, or my minor child, being permitted to participate in any way in the above-named Volunteer Program, I, the Undersigned, for myself and my minor child, all of my or my minor child's, personal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, next of kin, successors and assigns, herein referred to as "Releasors", do hereby:

1. Acknowledge that this volunteer service carries with it the potential for serious injury, death and/or property damage, and certify as to my physical fitness and that of my minor child to participate and declare that neither I, nor my minor child, have been advised otherwise by a qualified medical professional.

2. Acknowledge, agree, and represent that I and my minor child will, at all times, be aware of the surroundings during the volunteer service and agree that if I or my minor child consider anything related to this Activity to be unsafe, will immediately advise the Activity officials of such, and if necessary, will leave the area or refuse to participate further in the volunteer service.

3. Waive, release and discharge, and covenant not to sue, the City of Des Moines, Iowa, its elected and appointed officials, employees, volunteers, sponsors, partner organizations and agents, including others who give recommendations, directions, or instructions as part of this volunteer service, hereinafter referred to in this document as "City", from any and all liability to Releasors, except for my minor child, for any and all loss or damage, and any claim or demands therefore, on account of injury to the person or property, or resulting in my death or that of my minor child, including but not limited to illness or damage to me or my minor child’s property arising out of or related to the volunteer service, including traveling to or from the volunteer service and before, during, and after the volunteer service.

4. Agree to Indemnify and Save and Hold Harmless the City and each of them from any loss, liability, damage, or cost to third parties that they may incur arising out of or related to me or my minor child’s participation in this volunteer service.

5. Assume full responsibility for any risk of bodily injury, including but not limited to illness, death or property damage arising out of or related to the volunteer service. I agree to comply with all applicable safety rules, including wearing protective clothing, close-toed shoes/boots, safety goggles, gloves, and vest while performing my volunteer activities.

6. Agree that this Permission to Participate, Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement and Photo Release extends to all acts of negligence by the City, but excluding willful, wanton or reckless conduct, and is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by law including any governmental immunity afforded the City by law and that if any portion thereof is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect.

7. Authorize any medical treatment, including the administration of anesthesia, deemed advisable by any licensed physician and/or Emergency Responder (EMT) to relieve any injuries received or illness contracted by me or my minor child as a participant in this volunteer service. I hereby agree to pay all costs of any medical treatment or emergency transportation.

8. Authorize and consent to the City, its sponsors, and any news media, and their successors and assigns and those acting under their authority, to take, publish, use for public display in any media now or hereinafter known and including without limitation on the City’s social media accounts, and copyright photographs, videotape or other audio or visual media, including broadcast in any media, of me or my minor child, including but not limited to those that capture me or my minor child’s name, voice, and/or image, and agree that such may be used for any lawful purpose without limitation or reservation and without further compensation or approval.

9. I understand that some of the information that I will be working with during my volunteer service for the City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department may contain information that may be confidential under Iowa Code section 22.7(18), such as addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, etc. I agree to keep confidential and not to disclose to others the information and records of information which I have access to or are disclosed to me during the volunteer work that I am performing for the Parks and Recreation Department.

I have read the Permission to Participate, Release and Waiver, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement and Photo Release, fully understand its terms, understand that I have given up substantial rights of my own and of my minor child by signing it, and sign it voluntarily without assurance or guarantee being made to me and intend my signature to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the fullest extent permitted by law, including all acts of negligence by the City as stated above. I agree that this Permission to Participate, Release and Waiver, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement and Photo Release will be IN EFFECT for 5 YEARS from the date of my signature and/or electronic submission, unless otherwise terminated by me in writing delivered to the City.