AF Honor Guard to post flags at Arlington Cemetery

  • Published
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Officials at Arlington National Cemetery will continue the time-honored tradition of "Flags In" May 21.

The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard will join Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), Marines from the U.S. Marine Corps Ceremonial and Guard Company, the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard in placing more than 250,000 grave decorating flags at Arlington National Cemetery.

"Flags In" has been conducted annually since the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) was designated as the Army's official ceremonial unit in 1948. Flags are placed one foot in front and centered before each headstone in the cemetery.

Flags will also be placed at the Tomb of the Unknowns by the Tomb Sentinels and at the cemetery's Columbarium.

Flags In will take place prior to the National Memorial Day Observance program, which begins May 25 with an Armed Forces Full Honor Wreath-laying at 11:00 a.m. The observance program will commence in the Memorial Amphitheater directly following the wreath-laying ceremony.

There will be free parking in the Arlington National Cemetery Visitors Center parking lot for the general public from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. A free shuttle from the Visitors Center will provide transportation to and from the amphitheater. Walking is prohibited.

Seating in Memorial Amphitheater is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Prohibited items include: firearms and weapons of any type, laser pointers, aerosol containers, soda cans, umbrellas, coolers, picnic baskets, bottled water, tripods, lighters, personal protection sprays, and insulated beverage containers.

For more information, call (703) 607-8000.

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

View the comments/letters page