MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) – Hundreds of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts placed flags next to headstones at the Stones River National Battlefield and National Cemetery.
The annual event honors veterans buried in the cemetery, which is located on Old Nashville Highway in Murfreesboro.
On Memorial Day more than 7,000 headstones in the Stones River National Battlefield and National Cemetery will have little American flags next to them.
Each flag was placed by either a Boy Scout or Girl Scout who fanned out across the cemetery Saturday morning.
“Every one of these graves within 15 minutes will have a flag placed right in front of the headstone. They will have one standing straight and upright,” Park Ranger John McKay said. “It is amazing.”
The scouts were accompanied by troop leaders and their parents.
Jesse Charles Butler is a Boy Scout. His father, Jesse John Butler, is a veteran.
Butler served four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and is still a member of the U.S. Army Reserves.
“It is very emotional because a lot of people have forgotten what Memorial Day is for,” he said. “To see the kids out here is awesome.”
On Sunday, the cemetery will have a Memorial Day program starting at 1:30 pm. It will include the reading of the names of veterans who have passed away since last Memorial Day.
There will also be a wreath laying ceremony and patriotic music.
“We welcome everyone to be out here and see what we are all about,” Superintendent Brenda Waters said.
Memorial Day’s observance dates back to the Civil War, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans affairs.
For more information on the history of Memorial Day, click here.