The sun hasn’t yet risen over Washington D.C., but already they march. Silent figures in Army uniforms move with precision through Arlington National Cemetery’s seemingly endless rows of white headstones. Each soldier carries a rucksack heavy with small American flags.
This is “Flags In” – one of America’s most solemn and visually stunning Memorial Day traditions.
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Every year, just before Memorial Day weekend, the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment – known as “The Old Guard” – undertakes a mission unlike any other. They place more than 250,000 flags at Arlington’s graves in under four hours.
The tradition began in 1948, when The Old Guard was designated as the Army’s official ceremonial unit – though more recently other military branches have participated. For over 75 years since, they’ve never missed a Memorial Day.
Each flag is meticulously positioned exactly one boot length from the headstone. The placement must be perfect – centered, straight, and at the same distance from every marker.
The mission starts before dawn to avoid the late May heat. Soldiers work methodically across Arlington’s 639 acres, section by section.
“It’s a different kind of mission,” says Staff Sergeant Maria Rodriguez, participating in her fourth Flags In. “We train for combat, but this mission connects us directly to those who came before.“
The sheer scale of the operation is staggering. More than 1,000 soldiers place an average of 250 flags each.
They work in all weather conditions. Rain or shine, hot or cold – the mission continues.
The flags themselves are special – made to exacting specifications for this specific purpose. Each measures 12 by 8 inches, attached to a 24-inch wooden dowel.
Arlington staff order them months in advance. The cemetery keeps a reserve supply of 100,000 additional flags for replacements.
For many soldiers of The Old Guard, this duty becomes the most meaningful of their military service. They read the names on every marker they visit.
“I placed a flag at the grave of someone who died in Afghanistan the same week I was there,” says Sergeant James Cooper. “That hit me hard – it could have been me.“
The soldiers embrace the personal connection. Many find graves of friends lost in recent conflicts.
Others seek out historical figures – presidents, military legends, astronauts – all honored with the same simple flag. Here, in death, all are equal.
By mid-morning, the transformation is complete. What was a sea of white marble becomes a rippling tapestry of red, white, and blue.
From the air, the effect is breathtaking. Aerial photographs show precise rows of flags stretching to the horizon.
The meticulous patterns reveal Arlington’s careful planning – straight lines no matter which angle you view them from. The geometric precision honors the military values of order and discipline.
No section is forgotten. From the most visited graves to the oldest sections dating back to the Civil War, every veteran receives a flag.
This includes Section 27, where United States Colored Troops from the Civil War rest. And Section 60, the final resting place for many who fell in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The flags remain in place throughout the Memorial Day weekend. Millions of visitors will see this powerful display during the cemetery’s busiest days of the year.
Then, after Memorial Day concludes, The Old Guard returns. They collect every flag with the same precision with which they placed them.
This “Flags Out” operation receives less attention but is executed with equal reverence. The flags are carefully collected for storage until next year’s ceremony.
For visitors experiencing “Flags In” for the first time, the visual impact is often overwhelming. The endless field of flags makes the sacrifice tangible in a way nothing else can.
“You can read about how many service members have died for our country, but seeing all these flags puts it in perspective,” says Linda Mathews, visiting from Ohio. “Each one represents someone’s child, parent, or spouse.“
Families of the fallen find special meaning in the tradition. Many time their annual visits to coincide with “Flags In.”
The flags transform a place of mourning into something more complex – a place of honor, remembrance, and even pride. The collective tribute offers comfort that their loved one is not forgotten.
For The Old Guard, the mission continues year after year. Many soldiers request to return to the same sections, visiting “their” graves like old friends.
They’ve placed flags through rainstorms, heatwaves, and even a pandemic. The tradition remained unbroken even during COVID-19, though with reduced personnel.
As dawn breaks fully over Arlington, the mission complete, the soldiers gather at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Here too, they place flags with precise movements.
Then they stand at attention, surveying the sea of flags now covering the hills of Arlington. In the morning light, the cemetery has become something else entirely – a field of honor, marked by the colors of the nation these heroes served.
The soldiers depart quietly, leaving behind a quarter-million small sentinels. Each flag stands watch, a reminder that remembering is a sacred duty.
And for a few precious days each year, Arlington National Cemetery becomes America’s most beautiful and heartbreaking sight – a sea of red, white, and blue, rippling gently above those who gave all.
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References:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/3407791/75-years-of-flags-in-at-arlington-national-cemetery/
https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/3786391/flags-in-honoring-the-fallen-at-arlington-national-cemetery/
https://www.arlingtontours.com/arlington-national-cemetery-facts
https://www.fxva.com/event/arlington-national-cemetery-flags-in/22292/
https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Blog/Post/13615/Old-Guard-Continues-Memorial-Day-Tradition-of-Placing-Flags-at-Arlington-National-Cemetery
* Names were changed to protect the privacy of the individuals.
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