Bethlehem Lutheran Church is marking Memorial Day by surrounding its building with 1,200 flags to honor fallen service members.
Each flag represents about 1,000 American casualties in conflicts dating back to the Revolutionary War. The church officially opened the flag display today at 2 p.m., holding a ceremony that paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives to protect freedom.
Pastor Hileman, a combat-wounded Marine Corps veteran of Afghanistan, said the display is also meant to educate students about the meaning of the holiday.
“I was in the Marine Corps myself combat wounded in Afghanistan. And one of the things I noticed is that a lot of people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. So for us as a church in a school one of our opportunities to educate the kids here is that difference,” Hileman said.
The flags will remain up throughout the Memorial Day weekend for anyone who would like to visit.