Groton — Volunteers with the Subvets Memorial Committee were planting sunpatiens, a sun-friendly hybrid of impatiens, on Friday around the Subvets World War II Memorial East on Thames Street in Groton.

Former Groton City Mayor Marion Galbraith, who chairs the committee, said normally a group of sailors from the Basic Enlisted Submarine School at the Naval Submarine Base would be tasked to help with the planting but were not available this year due to coronavirus restrictions.

A group of nearly 20 volunteers from the community helped instead. "It's been great turnout of people to fill in the gap," Galbraith said.

The annual Memorial Day ceremony at the site has been canceled for this year, she added.