What type of flag display is commonly used at U.S. military cemeteries on Memorial Day?

Flags on graves are a common Memorial Day display at U.S. military cemeteries.

Small American flags are placed beside many graves to identify and honor people who served in the armed forces. The practice is especially visible at large cemeteries such as Arlington National Cemetery, where rows of flags create a symbolic national tribute.

The display is part of a broader Memorial Day tradition that includes cemetery visits, wreath-laying, parades, speeches, and moments of silence. It differs from ordinary flag etiquette, which concerns how a larger flag is raised, lowered, folded, or displayed on a building.

Memorial Day focuses on service members who died in military service. Veterans Day, by contrast, honors all U.S. military veterans, living or dead. The two holidays are therefore related but have different purposes.