This story has been updated to correct an error. It was Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery who canceled this year's Annual Good Turn, not the Boy Scouts of America. The errors has been corrected in the story.
ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery is canceling this year's Memorial Day tradition of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) placing American flags at headstones in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event scheduled for May 24 would have been the 70th year of scouts honoring war veterans.
The BSA Greater St. Louis Area Council says families will be allowed to place small American flags at their veteran’s gravesite if they wish to do so.
"While the Scouts and Volunteers of the Greater St. Louis Area Council are saddened by the news, we respect the decision of the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery and look forward to returning next year to continue this long tradition of honoring our Veterans," BSA Greater St. Louis Area Council director of marketing, Dave Chambliss says.
The Annual Good Turn takes place the Sunday before Memorial Day and typically brings thousands of scouts together at JB to place flags at hundreds of thousands of graves.
Also, scouts won't be placing flags on the graves of war veterans in St. Louis area Jewish cemeteries.