Published May 21, 2026, 3:08 PM EDT
The Old Guard has done this every year since 1948. Each flag is placed exactly one boot length from the headstone. They finish in under four hours.
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Published May 21, 2026, 3:08 PM EDT
Before most of Washington was awake May 21, nearly 1,500 soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment gathered at Arlington National Cemetery to begin Flags In, the annual tradition of placing a small American flag at the base of every headstone in the cemetery ahead of Memorial Day weekend. Of the more than 260,000 graves at Arlington, every one gets a flag. The soldiers work in organized groups moving section by section across the cemetery's 639 acres, pulling flags from their backpacks, placing each one exactly one boot length in front of and centered on the headstone. The flags must be straight, consistent and precisely positioned at every grave. Some soldiers work in groups and move quickly. Others work alone and move more slowly, pausing at headstones for a moment before moving on. They finish in under four hours. Read More: Actors Gary Sinise, Joe Mantegna Prep to Host Massive Memorial Day Concert
