US flags placed on Arlington National Cemetery headstones in honor of Memorial Day

ARLINGTON, Va. - Thousands of service members placed American flags on over 260,000 headstones at Arlington National Cemetery Thursday as part of their Memorial Day remembrance celebrations.

Service members participate in Arlington National Cemetery's Flags-In ceremony as part of their Memorial Day remembrance celebrations.

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The tradition of the joint service "Flags-In" ceremony has taken place at Arlington National Cemetery for more than 50 years and takes a few hours to complete.

Arlington National Cemetery (FILE)

Service members from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Soldiers, the U.S. Marine Corps Ceremonial and Guard Company, U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, U.S Air Force Honor Guard, and the U.S. Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard take part in addition to members of the National Capital Region Honor Guards.

The small, U.S. flags are also placed at the bottom of approximately 7,000 niche rows in the cemetery’s Columbarium Courts and Niche Walls to honor every individual laid to rest at the cemetery.