In the verdant hills of Arlington National Cemetery, just a stone’s throw from the Pentagon, each grave is marked with a small American flag. It’s a Memorial Day tradition that began almost 70 years ago, in the years following World War II.
That’s 280,000 flags; each one carefully pushed into the moist ground by a soldier from the U.S. Army’s 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as the “Old Guard” on Thursday.
It takes 1,000 soldiers to complete the task, basically every available soldier in the venerable ceremonial unit established in 1784, according to the Pentagon.
The soldiers perform the same labor of love at the U.S. Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., using their boots to measure the precise placement of the flags near the headstones, so they appear with uniform spacing.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” Army Pvt. Gabriel Thyfault, a truck driver with the Old Guard, told the Pentagon’s internal news service. “I couldn’t be more thankful to be out here, putting a flag on every single grave in the entire cemetery. It’s such an overwhelming honor.”
The solemn ritual is called “Flags-In” and has been conducted annually since the Old Guard was designated as the Army’s official ceremonial unit in 1948.
The storied unit maintains the 24-hour vigil at the Tomb of the Unknowns, providing escorts for military funerals at Arlington, and performing for visiting dignitaries.
Memorial Day, officially observed the last Monday in May, is designated at a day of remembrance for those who have fought and died serving their country.
But the Old Guard’s task is not finished. The soldiers will be back to pick up all the flags Tuesday morning, before the cemetery reopens to the public.
“I would do this every single year I could until I retire if I could,” said Army Pvt. Wes DeFee. “It’s such an honor to help the families and support them with honor and respect.”
