Chaplain (Col.) Karen Meeker placed the first flag at the headstone of Chaplain (Maj.) Charles Joseph Watters, who served in Vietnam and posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his selfless actions on Nov. 19, 1967.
Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) have been placing flags in front of headstones since 1948, when it was first designated as the Army’s official ceremonial unit. At ANC, where service members from the Revolutionary War through today’s conflicts are laid to rest, Flags In connects today’s Soldiers to generations of military service and sacrifice — spanning 250 years of American history. VIEW ORIGINAL
ARLINGTON, Va. – Chaplains and religious affairs specialists from across the National Capital Region gathered May 21 on Chaplains Hill in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery, carrying out a sacred duty ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. By placing American flags at the gravesites of their predecessors, they participated in "Flags In"—a time-honored military tradition.
While Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) have conducted the cemetery-wide "Flags In" tribute since becoming the Army’s official ceremonial unit in 1948, the Chaplain Corps gathered specifically to pay tribute to their own branch's legacy. This tradition links current service members to a 250-year lineage of military ministry and sacrifice, spanning from the Revolutionary War to modern conflicts.
A Sacred Space
Prior to placing the flags, Army Chaplain (Col.) Karen Meeker addressed the gathered group. She drew a parallel between their solemn duty and the biblical story of Joshua, who asked his people, "What do these stones mean?" as the Israelites prepared to cross the Jordan River.
Meeker directed the same question to the group as they stood among the approximately 250,000 grave markers in America’s premier cemetery.
"They represent those who have raised their right hands to defend our way of life, our freedom," Meeker said. "They have chosen a life of service and sacrifice. These stones represent the best of who we are in America."
She concluded by reminding attendees of their fundamental calling.
"As chaplains and Chaplain Corps members, we honor the dead, we comfort those who are mourning, and we nurture the living," Meeker said. "This is our office; this is our sacred space. This is where we do our work to honor God and to honor those who have given their life in service and sacrifice."
Honoring the Fallen
Chaplain (Col.) Karen Meeker placed the first flag at the headstone of Chaplain (Maj.) Charles Joseph Watters, who served in Vietnam and posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his selfless actions on Nov. 19, 1967.
Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) have been placing flags in front of headstones since 1948, when it was first designated as the Army’s official ceremonial unit. At ANC, where service members from the Revolutionary War through today’s conflicts are laid to rest, Flags In connects today’s Soldiers to generations of military service and sacrifice — spanning 250 years of American history. VIEW ORIGINAL
Following her remarks, Meeker led the contingent in placing flags, beginning at the headstone of Chaplain (Maj.) Charles Joseph Watters. Watters, who served in Vietnam, posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his selfless actions on Nov. 19, 1967.
Among those buried on Chaplains Hill in Section 2, are 12 former Army chiefs of chaplains, including the first chief of chaplains Colonel John Axton, a veteran of World War I, and Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) William Arnold, the first chaplain to become a general officer.
Among those buried on Chaplains Hill in Section 2, are 12 former Army chiefs of chaplains, including the first chief of chaplains Colonel John Axton, a veteran of World War I, and Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) William Arnold, the first chaplain to become a general officer. VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) have been placing flags in front of headstones since 1948, when it was first designated as the Army’s official ceremonial unit. At ANC, where service members from the Revolutionary War through today’s conflicts are laid to rest, Flags In connects today’s Soldiers to generations of military service and sacrifice — spanning 250 years of American history. VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army and Navy chaplains, as well as religious affairs specialists, place flags in front of the 1,100 headstones and four memorials located on Chaplains Hill in Section 2. The memorials honor the chaplains killed in World War I; Protestant chaplains killed in World Wars I and II; Catholic chaplains killed in World War II, Korea and Vietnam; and Jewish chaplains killed while on active duty.
All flags are removed after Memorial Day.
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