1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Southeast US Travel

Flags-in at Arlington National Cemetery

A Memorial Day Weekend Tradition

By Sheridan Alexander, About.com

Soldiers from the US Army, 3rd Infantry The Old Guard decorate the graves at Arlington National Cemetery for the Memorial Day weekend.

Soldiers from the US Army, 3rd Infantry The Old Guard decorate the graves at Arlington National Cemetery for the Memorial Day weekend.

Photo by John Metzler, Superintendent: Courtesy of Arlington National Cemetery
In a stirring tribute to mark Memorial Day each year, all available soldiers of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry (known as The Old Guard) gather at Arlington National Cemetery to perform a special task. Just before the Memorial Day weekend, they place American flags, one foot and centered, in front of the gravestones and columbarium niches of every service member buried or inurned at Arlington Cemetery.

This tradition of honor, known as Flags-in, has taken place ever since 1948 when The Old Guard was appointed as the ceremonial unit for the U.S. Army. During the Memorial Day weekend, members of The Old Guard patrol the cemetery to make sure each gravesite remains decorated and honored with a flag. In addition, sentinels for the Tomb of the Unknowns place flags at each of the unknown servicemen graves.

The flags are removed after the three-day Memorial Day weekend.

More about Arlington National Cemetery

More about the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment - The Old Guard

More about Memorial Day Weekend Events in the Southeast

Flags-in Information Source: Arlington National Cemetery

Explore Southeast US Travel

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Southeast US Travel
  4. Events, Festivals, Holidays
  5. Spring Festivals & Events
  6. May Festivals and Events
  7. Flags-in at Arlington National Cemetery

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.