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Normally this time of year, veterans with Knoxville’s American Legion Baty-Tucker Post 168 as well as the Knoxville VFW Post 3519 and local boy and girl scouts post flags throughout Graceland Cemetery to celebrate Memorial Day. As COVID-19 has impacted the country and caused the cancellation of mass gatherings and social distancing to be practiced, this year’s Memorial Day Flag Raising will not happen in a traditional sense.

According to the American Legion, only a select handful of veterans will post flags on the veteran gravestones at the cemetery this Friday, May 22nd at 8 a.m., and only the service flags will be displayed at the Veterans Plot. The decision to limit the number of people at the cemetery was made due to the older ages of the veterans who could be most impacted by COVID-19. According to the legion, no other special events are planned for Memorial Day, however the post asks all residents, if they are able, to post a flag at their home as a way to honor and remember the service members who paid the ultimate price for their country.