Congressman Josh Harder is among the speakers for Monday’s Memorial Day ceremonies at East Union Cemetery.

There are 480 veterans buried there or 15 percent of the cemetery’s population.

Members of the Boy Scout Troop 422 are striving to place small American flags on all of the graves in advance of the ceremonies being organized by the Manteca Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6311. They are working in conjunction with American Legion Post 249 to stage the remembrance.

The volunteers who took over the East Union Cemetery and secured state licensing to resume the sale of burial plots made it a priority to identify all who are buried at the cemetery on the southwest corner of Louise Avenue and Union Road.

They also it a point to research to see if anyone else buried there had served in the military.

For years, there was thought to be 150 veterans buried at the cemetery. But due to their research they confirmed 480 people buried at East Union cemetery had served in the military dating back to the Civil War.

They were driven by the desire to make sure none of those who served would be forgotten at commemorations such as Memorial Day or for those who may reach their family’s history.

The East Union Cemetery is marking its 150th year.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabullein.com