Broken Arrow -
Floral Haven celebrated the memories of fallen veterans on Saturday.
The 40th anniversary of Floral Haven's Avenue of the Flags began at 10:00 a.m. with a color guard performance by members of the JROTC.
Ceremonies continued with the raising of the Garrison Flag, an a cappella version of "The Star Spangled Banner," the laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, an artistic rendering by inspirational speaker Richard Hight, a keynote speech by USAF Lt. Col. James Nichols, a special Memorial Day poem read by Orval Yocum, a special plaque presentation, the raising of 89 newly-donated flags, a dove release, and a performance of "Amazing Grace" by pipe major William Tetrick.
Members of Chapter Five of the Broken Arrow Blue Star Mothers collected items for Freedom Boxes to be sent to troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Members of the Starbase Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol reenacted the Changing of the Guard at the replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, west of Floral Haven Funeral Home.
"Memorial Day, or Declaration Day as it used to be called, was created to remember those people we lost at war," said Floral Haven Community Relations Director Stephen Moeller.
The Avenue of Flags began with a simple request from the widow of a veteran in 1972 and has evolved into one of the largest private tributes to veterans in the Central United States.
Floral Haven considers the celebration to be a reminder of the true meaning of remembering veterans over Memorial Day Weekend.
"Today we have over three-thousand veterans' casket flags flying in alphabetical order throughout the cemetery," Moeller said.
Floral Haven is located in the 6500 block of South 129th East Avenue in Broken Arrow.
Floral Haven's Avenue of the Flags
