Memorial Day 2018 is now in the record books. Thousands of towns and cities all across the country celebrated in their own special way, some with elaborate parades and ceremonies, others with small, meaningful observances. The one thing all of us had in common was placing flags on the graves of our veterans.

While nobody knows for sure, it’s generally accepted that the first place to hold a ceremony to remember fallen servicemen was in Waterloo, New York, in May 1866. They decorated graves with the now traditional flowers and flags. Two years later it was officially recognized as Decoration Day. Eventually, it was renamed Memorial Day.

One of the practices which to us makes the day so special is the placing of flags on the graves. The flags usually don’t appear too far in advance of the holiday, sometimes not until the day itself, and they are quietly removed shortly after the observance is over. Visiting or driving by a cemetery around Memorial Day and seeing all the flags designating the grave sites of our veterans is very moving. These flags remind us all that freedom isn’t free, and that many of those buried in these cemeteries not only served their country, they died for it.

One of the most memorable flag displays we’ve seen is the one at the Maine Veterans Cemetery in Augusta. Thousands of flags covering acres of green grass is a sight you don’t soon forget.

The flowers will remain on some grave sites for weeks, but the flags are gone, or soon will be, until next year at this time.  In the meantime, we can respect the flag wherever it flies, telling the whole world it signifies the land of the free and home of the brave.