American flags are lining Bicentennial Park in Elkhart for the 17th year in a row this Memorial Day weekend.
It's become a tradition, joining the Elkhart and Dunlap Lions Clubs to make it happen.
They were joined by the Marine Corps Auxiliary Saturday morning to begin set-up.
"We are putting up 222 flags around the perimeter of the park this morning," said Brain Thomas, Elkhart Lions Club.
It's a record for Flags from the Heart to have that many for the start of the weekend.
Each flag has a special meaning.
People can purchase or renew a flag and dedicate it to a person or memory.
"There's been so many stories," said Thomas, "people have come out for a deceased relative and they've had picnics under the flag."
Thomas started this project with his late wife 17 years ago.
Since, he says he's met so many people and shared so many stories, especially with veterans and their families.
Some who have served were out helping Saturday morning.
Like Jeffrey Ainsworth, who served as a Marine from 1981 to 1984.
He says he was in Beirut when an explosion killed more than 200 Marines.
Memorial Day, for him, is personal.
"I was actually staying in the building the night before, but because the Italians were attacked and they needed O-Negative blood, I was taken back aboard ship. Otherwise, I would have been in the blast, too," said Ainsworth.
He says he's proud to see people, young and old, out doing this.
A Boy Scout Troop plans to guard the flags for a period of the weekend.
He says it's important to teach the next generation what this weekend is for.
"Everyone who has served their country wrote a blank check, even up until their death," said Ainsworth.
So that the willingness to serve continues.
And so does the honor for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.
"America is the only place that I know in the world where the veterans are actually honored in this way, that their memory is held dear," said Ainsworth, "it's a way to honor their memory, their life."
New flags are sold for $35 each, and a renewal is $15.
The event lasts until Monday evening.
Money from it goes into general funds for the Lions Clubs, which often goes to vision testing for those in need.