Across Westlawn Cemetery American flags flutter, each marking the final resting place of a man or woman who served their country.
Each of those graves can tell a story about America and its history.
A study of the headstones is like turning back the pages in a book and watching nearly 160 years of a soldier’s dedication and patriotism unfold.
There is Levi Conterman. He served with the 12th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War. Joining the regiment Aug. 1, 1861, he was involved in the battle of Shiloh and was part of the fighting in Atlanta, Georgia.
He might have even seen William M. Norred who was a sergeant with the 22nd. Alabama Infantry and was wearing the uniform of the Confederate States of America.
Norred fought at Shiloh, Missionary Ridge and Murfresboro.
Another proud southener who wore the grey uniform was Captain Robert Hight. He was a member of Rive’s Company in the Virginia Light Artillery. They were assigned to protect Richmond, Virginia then Petersburg before finally being in the last battles at Appomattox.
James Sands was only 16 when the Civil War started. He joined the 7th Tennessee Mounted Infantry at age 19. That military unit was involved in a number of skirmishes throughout the Athens and Nashville areas. Although from Tennessee, a state commonly associated with the rebels, the 7th Tennessee wore the blue uniform of the north.
Stepping ahead to a global war, the Spanish-American war, James Burns rode with the Fifth Calvary. That military group saw skirmishes with various Native American tribes then went to Puerto Rico in 1898 for the Spanish American War. Following that, the Fifth went to the Phillippines and even battled outlaws along the border in Arizona.
Roy Brosius was another Spanish American War veteran. He served with the Fifth Pensylvania Infantry.
Students of World War I remember bloody battles of the Belleau Wood, and Meuse Argonne.
Those battles and even a connection with the sinking of the Titanic can be traced through those veterans at Westlawn.
Agnew Youngblood was a member of the 314th Engineers that sailed to France in 1917 on the R.M.S. Carpathia. That was the first ship to rescue survivors from the Titanic sinking just two years earlier.
His engineer unit was involved building bridges and roads and even fighting in both the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives.
Another engineer, Lonnie Campbell, was a corporal with the Second Engineers. They were attached to the Marines who were involved in bloody fighting at Belleau Wood. The Second Engineers has a monument in their honor at that battlefield.
Whether their uniform was blue or grey, olive drab or navy blue, they have one thing in common: All came to Henryetta and now rest side by side, some former enemies, others comrades in arms.
There are more, nearly 2,000, who are being honored this Memorial Day. Each has a story to tell if a person will take the time to hear it.