More than 250,000 flags placed at Riverside National Cemetery on Memorial Day weekend

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Hundreds of volunteers fanned out across Riverside National Cemetery to place miniature American flags alongside more than 250,000 grave sites as part of a Memorial Day weekend tribute.

The "Flag for Every Hero" event began with a brief ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater in the middle of the cemetery.

"It's such an important holiday that we take time to both celebrate and remember," said Mitzi Carver. "It brings tears... it's just, they've earned it."

Brennan Leininger, who inaugurated the walks more than a decade ago with the help of Garden Grove-based nonprofit Honoring Our Fallen, said the "emotional experience that results from participating in this event is what it is all about."

The walks, first organized in 2012, are conducted not only on Memorial Day weekend, but also on Veterans Day.

"I started getting involved in 2022 after my son was killed in action. He was Hunter Lopez, he's a Marine, he's my son, and he's laid to rest here," said Herman Lopez. "Honoring Our Fallen, the group that puts this on, has a saying, 'A hero remembered never dies,' and I think it's important to remember their names, so that they continue to live on."

Boy Scouts, police Explorers, Civil Air Patrol cadets, unions and other interested parties from throughout the Inland Empire take part in the walks, which have drawn upwards of 1,500 volunteers in the past.

When the events began in 2012, participants were able to reach only 21,000 grave sites. In 2014, organizers were able to procure enough flags and enlist a sufficient number of people to plant the Stars and Stripes next to just about all of the final resting places of individuals interred at the cemetery.

Since then, flags have been erected at every grave within three hours.

"It's a personal thing. When I got injured, my team leader took over my platoon, and after 9/11 happened, me and my whole team got wiped out," said Joe Huerta. "So, this is one way to remember them."

Leininger, an honorably discharged U.S. Air Force serviceman who became a police officer, visited the cemetery in 2011 and was dismayed by how few flags were flying, prompting him to start the placements, ultimately in partnership with Honoring Our Fallen.

That group later joined with Riverside resident Mary Ellen Gruendyke to ensure all graves receive a flag. Gruendyke had contributed money and time to the effort long before 2012.

The 900-acre national cemetery is the fourth-largest of its kind in the nation -- and running out of space.

"I look at the names and I say a silent prayer for them only because I'm religious and I know they're up there since they served and helped us," Haylee Huddy said. "And I'm thankful they served for our country and protected us."

City News Service contributed to this report.