Established in 1903, Locustwood Cemetery in Cherry Hill, New Jersey is located 10 minutes from the Cherry Hill Mall and down the street from what was once the Garden State Racetrack. The grounds are nestled in a serene setting of beautifully landscaped lawns and stately trees, with four stately Doric columns which once overlooked a reflection pond that was part of an exhibit at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York.

Locustwood is a non-sectarian cemetery serving all faiths. Facilities include Estate Sections, Garden, Chapel, and Sheltered Mausoleum crypts and Columbarium Niches. A consecrated Jewish section and Garden of Jacob mausoleum is offered for those of the Jewish Faith, and there is a Veteran’s Section as well as an American Legion Section.

Flagging the graves of our veterans at Locustwood Cemetery is rich in our American Legion history and is now a tradition in its 88th year. It is done on the Sunday prior to Memorial Day Weekend – rain or shine.  It began in 1935 when Locustwood Cemetery deeded 400 free grave sites to the American Legion for use by Legionnaires and their spouses, and erected a monument memorializing their service. As part of the transfer of grave sites, the American Legion members began their tradition of flagging the veterans graves in the cemetery, along with an annual Memorial Day Service at the monument and the NJ American Legion Statewide Services and Parade, which is held the Sunday after Memorial Day.

Today, there are over 2,400 graves of veterans in the cemetery, some in the dedicated American Legion section and others in the Jewish Veterans section, where Jewish War Veterans began flagging Jewish graves in 1998.

There are numerous veterans in this cemetery that paid the ultimate sacrifice during the wars – from WWII to GWOT – some of which are highlighted in this brochure and last years video. While flagging their graves in preparation for Memorial Day, we also flag the graves of veterans that passed away after serving our country – a show of respect and remembrance for their service.

In addition to our veterans, we also flag our first responders graves, who have protected and kept us safe at home. One such hero is Cherry Hill Police Officer Louis Duffy, who was killed in the line of duty in 1947.

Locustwood is also the resting of place of several young veterans and first responders that passed away recently and unexpectedly, not in the line of duty, but while serving our great nation. They include Anthony Evans (2017), Justin Major (2021) and most recently, one of Camden County Police Departments finest  – Police Officer Daniel Adler, who passed in 2022.

May we be eternally grateful for our servicemen and women who put their lifes on the line and make the ultimate sacrifice.

THANK YOU to all our Community Partners that have assisted the American Legion Members with Flagging the Veterans Graves at Locustwood Cemetery over the years;

AMERICAN LEGION MEMBERS
(Legionnaires, SAL’s, Auxiliary, and Baseball)
CAMDEN COUNTY / VETERANS AFFAIRS
CHERRY HILL TOWNSHIP
CHERRY HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT
CHERRY HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT
CHERRY HILL PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS
CHERRY HILL FOP / CHERRY HILL PBA
CHERRY HILL JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY
GLOUCESTER COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY
JEWISH WAR VETERANS
JFCS of Southern New Jersey
SCOUTS—Boys Scouts, Cub Scouts & Girl Scouts
And other Community Volunteers

While we always welcome help and assistance, we have to limit volunteer spots to assure that everyone had an area to flag.