TULSA -- About four thousand flags are lining Floral Haven's Memorial Garden for the upcoming holiday.
Each flag was donated by the veteran's family to fly at the cemetery.
"They came out here one Memorial Day weekend and saw all of this and my dad said this is where I want to be," Wauleua Fletcher said of her father.
She has spent every Memorial Day weekend but one since 1994 at Floral Haven.
Fletcher said her father loved the way the veterans were honored.
One of the way Floral Haven pays tributes is through JROTCs. The students put up each flag and salute every veteran.
"It means a lot to see how many people actually come out here and care and respect the flags and how many people come to visit their loved ones," Jennifer Chambers, an 11th grade JROTC member from Memorial High School, said.
Chambers has put up flags for three years now.
She has plans to go into the U.S. Air Force after she graduates next year to help serve her country.
The Avenue of the Flags holds a special meaning for her.
"I am hoping one day one of my flags can be up here and somebody in the JROTC program will put up my flag," Chambers said.
"We are doing something concrete for veterans families and in memory of those veterans," retired US Army veteran and senior army instructor at Memorial High School Col. Greg Barrack said. "It's a two way street. While our cadets do that for those families of those veterans, it is really good for those cadets because it makes you think about the cost of freedom."
Fletcher loves seeing the young people paying respect to veterans. It is one of the reasons she brings her grandkids to Floral Haven. She wants them to know how important the people are who came before them.
"I was wiping tears while ago watching my grandsons and their dad putting up my daddy's flag," Fletcher said.
Floral Haven has a full weekend of events planned for Memorial Day.
Saturday, May 26 – 10 a.m.
Memorial Day Weekend Observance Program and Raising of the Newly Donated Veterans’ FlagsSaturday, May 26 – Monday, May 28
Collection of Items for Freedom Boxes
The Broken Arrow Blue Star Mothers Chapter 5 is sponsoring a collection for Freedom Boxes, which are sent to our military troops overseas.Saturday, May 26 – Monday, May 28 – Starting at 1 p.m.
The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Members of the Starbase Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will re-enact the “Changing of the Guard” at the replica of the Tomb of the Unknowns west of Floral Haven Funeral Home. They will be performing this solemn ceremony 24 hours a day (every half hour during the daytime and every hour at night). Many of these cadets have undergone special training with the Honor Guard at Arlington National Cemetery.Saturday, May 26 – Monday, May 28
Reading of the Honor Roll
The names of all of the veterans buried at Floral Haven during this past year will be read over the Veterans Field Carillon Tower.Saturday – 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Sunday and Monday – 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.Monday, May 28 – 3 p.m.
National Moment of Remembrance
The White House Commission on Remembrance, an independent, bipartisan executive branch agency, asks that everyone in the United States observe one minute of silence at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day, in remembrance and tribute to those who have fallen, those who have served and those who are still serving and their families.Monday, May 28 – 5 p.m.
Retiring of the Colors
Members of the Indian Nations Council of the Boy Scouts of America will retire the Garrison Flag and the other Flags surrounding the Veterans Field of Honor with their own special ceremonies. The scouts will then retire all of the Flags in the Floral Haven Avenue of Flags for another year.
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