A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light
A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light
A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light
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St. Louis Scouts place 8,000 flags at Jewish veteran graves in Memorial Day tribute

Bill Motchan, Special To The Jewish Light
Published May 26, 2025
Bill Motchan

For more than 40 years, St. Louis area scouts have placed flags at Jewish veterans’ graves on Memorial Day weekend.

“We have 400 scouts participating at every Jewish cemetery today,” said Steve Sobelman, who coordinated the event at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in University City where nearly 1,800 flags were placed.

The project, known as St. Louis Memorial Day Scout Good Turn, placed more than 8,000 flags on Sunday, May 25.

All photos by Bill Motchan.
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About the Contributor
Bill Motchan, writer/photographer
Bill worked in corporate communications for AT&T for 28 years. He is a former columnist for St. Louis Magazine. Bill has been a contributing writer for the Jewish Light since 2015 and is a three-time winner of the Rockower Award for excellence in Jewish Journalism. He also is a staff writer for the travel magazine Show-Me Missouri. Bill grew up in University City. He now lives in Olivette with his wife and cat, Hobbes. He is an avid golfer and a fan of live music. He has attended the New Orleans Jazzfest 10 times and he has seen Jimmy Buffett in concert more than 30 times between 1985 and 2023.