The Avenue of Flags
The Avenue of Flags is the only one in 155 National Cemeteries in the United States. The Avenue of Flags are 50 patriotic American Flags that fly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, over the fallen veterans and their families. The Avenue of Flags line the Cemetery’s main drive from the entrance on Nobel Drive and can be viewed from I-805 and surrounding streets. The Avenue ends at the Flag Assembly Area, where the Avenue is met by the Garrison Flag. The Garrison Flag is lowered to half-mast Monday through Friday as burials take place on cemetery grounds. The Avenue of Flags was the Miramar National Support Foundation’s first gift to the Cemetery and was dedicated in January 2012.
The flag poles continue to be maintained by the Support Foundation. Due to generous community-based donations, a major overhaul of the 50 flagpoles and mechanisms was completed in 2025.
Because of wear and tear, the 50 American Flags are changed out at least twice a year - just before Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The flags are decommissioned and repurposed so they can live forever.
To view a story about a local military supporter who volunteers his time to decommission the flags, please click on the story:
**The Support Foundation often receives inquiries about donating a service member's burial flag for our Avenue of Flags. Burial flags are typically 5 feet by 9.5 feet, and our Avenue of Flags are 5 feet by 8 feet. To ensure all 50 American Flags are the same size, we are not able to accept interment flags to be used on the Avenue of Flags.
Please consider a donation in your loved one's name. Each American Flag costs approximately $100. All 50 flags are changed out at least two times per year at a cost of $5,000 each change out.
