Soldiers place flags at Arlington for Memorial Day (17 images)

Old Guard U.S. Army soldiers place American flags at the tombstones of the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Thursday in advance of Memorial Day weekend. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visited the cemetery as well, to take part in the "Flags In" tradition.

Old Guard U.S. Army soldiers place American flags at the tombstones of the fallen. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI

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More than 228,000 flags are placed at the graves prior to Memorial Day, which commemorates those who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI

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More than 400,000 military veterans and t heir families are buried at Arlington, which encompasses 624 acres overlooking the Potomac River. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI

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The cemetery was established in 1864 on land confiscated from Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI

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