A flag raising and ceremony was held Thursday morning at Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville to honor Veterans ahead of Veterans Day.

Local Veterans, their families, and community members came out to the cemetery Thursday morning to put up flags lining the road ahead of Veterans Day on Saturday. After the flags were put up, a ceremony was held in honor of all who have served. Marion County Veterans Affairs Director Rob Bandstra led the ceremony and spoke about the importance of the holiday, and the sacrifice made by so many who have served. 

“There are two ceremonies honoring our veterans every year. The first one of course is honoring those veterans who have given their lives, and passed away, on Memorial Day. Veterans Day in the fall as we approach that eleventh hour, of that eleventh day, of that eleventh month, that is the day for all the rest of us. All the veterans who served whether they served for one day or an extended period of time, that’s the day we honor them.”

The flags at Graceland Cemetery will be taken down Monday at 3:00 pm.