‘Every headstone tells a story’: Army’s Old Guard places 260,000 flags at Arlington Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day

An Old Guard soldier prepares to place a flag in front of a headstone.

Members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard, honor America’s fallen heroes by placing American flags at gravesites on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The tradition, known as “Flags In,” has taken place annually since 1948. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

ARLINGTON, Va. — On a cool, overcast, misty Thursday morning, nearly 1,500 soldiers of the Army’s 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as the Old Guard, placed more than 260,000 flags at headstones in Arlington National Cemetery in just four hours.

The 77-year-old tradition known as “Flags In” honors members of the U.S. armed forces for their service and sacrifice with letter-sized American flags placed one boot-length from each headstone.

The day began with soldiers stuffing rolled-up flags into rucksacks. Working in pairs or alone, they walked along seemingly endless rows of white marble headstones marking the graves of those who served. At each site, soldiers would place the toe of their boot against the stone and insert a flag at the base of their heel.

Some paused, quietly reflecting on the solemn duty and the comrades they were honoring. Others moved with purpose and camaraderie, chatting as they navigated the hilly, rain-soaked terrain.

A soldier kneels in front of a headstone, using his boot to measure the spot where he will place a flag.

Soldiers carry American flags still wrapped up.

A soldier places a flag in front of a headstone.

A soldier with multiple flags prepares to place one in front of a headstone.

A patch on a soldier’s shoulder says Honor Guard.

A soldier walks down a road with flags in hand.

A soldier prepares to place a flag among lines of headstones.

Soldiers prepare to place flags at headstones.

A group of soldiers carry American flags as they walk down the road before placing the flags at headstones. One soldier also carries a flag that says Honor Guard.

Three soldiers carry dozens of American flags.

Flags In is more than just a ceremony. It’s a deeply personal act for many members of the Old Guard, who may be honoring fallen friends or family.

“We do a lot of ceremonies, a lot of funerals in Arlington National Cemetery,” said Maj. Wes Strickland, director of communications for the Old Guard. “And sometimes, because of that, we don’t have the time to reflect. So, this is the opportunity for us to come through, reflect, place a flag at each headstone and show our continued honor.”

Flags In will not be the only commemorative event at Arlington this weekend.

The fourth annual Flowers of Remembrance Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will be Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event pays homage to the first official national Decoration Day — now known as Memorial Day — which was held at Arlington in 1868. Members of the public will be invited to place a flower at the Tomb. Flowers will be provided by the cemetery.

“We like to say at Arlington, every headstone tells a story,” said Col. Mike Binetti, chief of staff for Arlington National Cemetery. “And we feel like we can tell the history of the nation through the history of the cemetery.”

A flag is placed in front of a headstone, which emerges out of the trunk of a tree.

Eric Kayne

Eric Kayne is a photographer and writer for Stars and Stripes. He has worked for a wide range of publications, including San Antonio Express-News, The Seattle Times, The Dallas Morning News and Houston Chronicle. Eric was a freelancer before joining Stars and Stripes. He was most recently a contract photo editor at Radio Free Asia.

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‘Every headstone tells a story’: Army’s Old Guard places 260,000 flags at Arlington Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day

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