Entering into the Memorial Day weekend, across America ceremonies are held to honor veterans in the armed forces.
The Florence County National Cemetery was filled with residents from all over the Pee Dee Saturday morning.
There are over 12,000 South Carolinian veterans buried in the national cemetery and in a span of a little more than half a hour the cemetery made a drastic transformation.
Residents were given thousands of small American flags to place in front of each headstone for fallen soldiers.
It literally takes an army to do this job.
Parents and kids were on the go to get the job done. It took just a little more than half a hour. Leaving many to wonder how and why they do it.
One woman who was there says her niece was excited to be apart of the ceremony.
“She just took off, got the flags and just took off. It was like awesome for her,” says Gloria Evans.
For those who participated it means more than just placing a flag in the ground.
“It’s our way of saying thanks to these veterans some who have given their life for our freedom,” said master of ceremony Jay Holcombe.
It’s an act of honor and respect for those who dedicated their life to serving.
“If you have not walked in either footsteps. You have no idea what these folks have gone through,” said Evans.
A lesson for the young.
“Try to teach the younger generation how to honor soldiers and stuff that died for our freedom,” said Rebecca Jones.
For some residents the ceremony became personal.
“For me it’s very emotional. I am proud of the fact that we have so many people putting out flags and remembering those who have gone on,” Evans said.
There were others who experienced it with the death of a family member..
“He passed away November 6, 2014 and we are out here to try and honor him today and the rest of the soldiers that served,” said Jones who father passed away.
But at the end of the day, everyone wanted to show how proud they were of their country.
The flags will remain on display at the cemetery throughout the Memorial Day weekend.
