Flags-In Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery

By JFHQ-NCR/MDW Public AffairsMay 15, 2013

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1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Pvt. Aaron Johnson places a small American flag in front of a grave during the annual "Flags In" event at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., May 24, 2012. Johnson, assigned to the 3rd Infantry Regiment, the Army's "Old Guard," was on... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Soldier places an American flag in front of fallen veteran's grave stone May 24, 2012. For the past 40 years, the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment has honored America's fallen heroes by placing American flags befo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Arlington National Cemetery will honor our nation's fallen military heroes with "Flags-In" on Thursday, May 23 starting at 3 p.m. "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.

Every available Soldier in the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment participates, placing small American flags one foot in front and centered before each grave marker. The Old Guard will place an American flag at each of the more than 220,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery.

American flags will also be placed at the Tomb of the Unknowns, by the Tomb Sentinels and at the cemetery's Columbarium. All flags will be removed after Memorial Day before the cemetery is opened to the public.

Additionally, media may stay in the cemetery until after dark to allow for b-roll and still photos of the sunset. A time and meeting point will be determined and briefed on that day, so all personnel can be escorted off of cemetery grounds.

Media should report to Memorial Drive no later than 2:45 p.m. for a media escort.

To schedule an interview with an Old Guard Soldier, contact Maj. John Miller, Old Guard Public Affairs Officer at john.g.miller1.mil@mail.mil or 703-696-2531.

For information about Arlington National Cemetery, contact Melissa Bohan, Arlington National Cemetery Public Affairs Officer, at melissa.r.bohan.civ@mail.mil or 703-614-1091.

Related Links:

Arlington National Cemetery

Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and the U.S. Military District of Washington