Despite gray skies and rain, on the morning of May 22, 2025, U.S. Army soldiers and veterans from the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C., gathered at the adjacent Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery (SAHNC) to place flags at the headstones of the fallen. In a tradition known as “Flags In,” on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the Army’s 3d Infantry Regiment (the Old Guard) place small American flags in front of every headstone and niche row at both SAHNC and Arlington National Cemetery. During the event at SAHNC, the Armed Forces Retirement Home residents also participate.
The soldiers placed flags first, and as they departed SAHNC in Army buses, the veterans arrived and saluted them. A rainstorm then swept through the cemetery, but it did not stop the veterans from honoring those who had served and sacrificed.
Twenty-year U.S. Navy and Air Force veteran Ernie Stallcop said the rain did not bother him as he placed his flags. “These folks went before us,” he said, “and this is just a way of honoring their commitment and their time serving our nation.”
Milton Stark, who spent 23 years in the U.S. Navy’s submarine service and retired as a chief petty officer, explained that placing the flags, even in the rain, “is not a chore. It’s an honor to come over here and get to do this.” He added that the Armed Forces Retirement Home had given him a great deal; participating in Flags In offered a way for him to give back. “We have to be part of what these guys did,” he said.
Richard Strait, who served twelve years as a Navy corpsman for the U.S. Marine Corps, wanted to pay respects to his fellow comrades. His service took him to Panama, Haiti, Somalia and three tours in the Persian Gulf. Strait suffered combat injuries and had to be hospitalized for several years. “I’ve seen the cost and felt the cost,” he said, “not just for myself, but also for my family, who supported me the whole time.”
The soldiers from the Echo “Honor Guard” Company of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment spent the earlier part of the morning methodically walking the rows of headstones and placing a flag in front of each. They precisely measured the distance by placing the toe of their boot against the base of each headstone before pushing a flag into the rain-soaked ground at their heel. (Click here to see additional photos.)
Whenever soldiers came across one of the 21 headstones that marked a Medal of Honor recipient, they paused, put down their rucksack of flags, stood at attention and slowly saluted. They worked quietly to respect the solemnity of the occasion—and to not alarm two deer that had settled in the peaceful cemetery.
Capt. Henry Newstrom explained that participating in Flags In at SAHNC has been a tradition for Honor Company. “We owe it to these soldiers,” he said. Newstrom admitted to getting emotional as he placed his flags. “When I think about the service they and their families gave, placing the flag as perfectly as you can is a mere fraction of what they sacrificed.”
1st Sgt. Shane Grinder came to the Old Guard to honor the fallen. “This is an opportunity for myself and the rest of Honor Guard Company to pay homage and respects to our comrades,” he said. Pvt. Joy Washington, who has been with the Old Guard for only three and a half months, noted that this was her first visit to SAHNC. “I think it’s a good experience for all new soldiers to come here to explore and pay respects to people who paved the way for us to continue to serve,” she added.
Capt. Matthew McGovern liked the idea of nearby residents waking up to see flags at all the headstones: “There’s no doubt that their memory is being remembered by all Americans,” he said. He was happy to place flags at both SAHNC and Arlington National Cemetery, which he had done earlier that morning. “The American soldiers decided to serve,” he said, “so we’re happy to help out no matter where they are across the country.”
As the veterans placed their last flags, the rain stopped and the sun came out, illuminating the marble headstones and the American flags swaying in the breeze. Thanks to the combined work of service members old and new, the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery was ready for Memorial Day.
