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More than 10,000 flags at Waterfront to honor soldiers' sacrifice

Flags for Vets is calling upon volunteers to come to the Great Lawn where they'll have flags for people to plant into the ground in honor of someone who has served the country.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- Rows and rows of American flags flutter in the warm breeze coming off the Ohio River.

"It's just amazing," Gina Adair said. "It's overwhelming, the feelings when you really think about it."

There are more than 10,000 flags at the Great Lawn down by the waterfront, but it's a drop in the bucket when it comes to what they represent.

"Since the Civil War, over 3 million people have given their lives in support of their country," Michael Johnson, a retired Air Force veteran, said.

The flags, which were planted by volunteers, are meant to represent those who laid down their lives for the United States.

"You can just pick one up and then go plant a flag like in memory of a father or mother or maybe you have some children that gave their lives for the military," Johnson, a member of Flags 4 Vets, said.

"My dad's a veteran from the Vietnam War and my grandfather also fought in World War II," Adair said after planting a flag. "I wouldn't be here today if my dad and my grandfather didn't do what they did."

While the patriotic display is only up through Memorial Day, the idea behind it is to make sure veterans and those who've died in service of their country are honored year round. Johnson said the display is also meant to raise funds for Flags 4 Vets, which seeks to make sure there is always a flag on every veteran's grave in America 365 days a year.

"I've participated in Desert Storm," Johnson said. "I know what it's like. And for us to be able to dedicate this to everyone in the military who's given their lives, it's overwhelming. It really is."

"It causes me to reflect on how important it is to support those veterans and be a part of their lives and give back to them and make sure that they're taken care of because they take care of us," April Raque said.

It's about sending a message to those who defend the land of the free that their sacrifice will not be forgotten.

"Everybody has a story," Johnson said. "They talk about their children. They talk about their grandfather in World War II or their brother who was in Vietnam who didn't make it home. And it's just really touching and really heartfelt."

Flags 4 Vets will be down at the waterfront through Memorial Day. People can plant a flag for free, but donations are being accepted. The money will be used to purchase flags.

According to Johnson, after Memorial Day, the flags will be collected and then sent around the country where they will be placed at the graves of veterans.

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