People across the country lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

ARLINGTON, Va. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - At the Arlington National Cemetery, Flowers of Remembrance Day is a day for visitors to pay their respects and lay down a flower at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Memorial Day weekend.

Flower by flower, people from all across the country remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

"It was emotional. I've never been here," said Aaron Williams, a Veteran from Iowa. "I wanted to bring my daughter. She just graduated high school and I'm trying to show her some history and just to show honor."

"Obviously with my dad being a veteran and it's cool being able to see from a new perspective, like closer up," said Baily Williams, Aaron's daughter.

This is the fourth year Arlington National Cemetery has held Flowers of Remembrance. It gives visitors to the cemetery a unique opportunity to honor the fallen for Memorial Day.

"Flowers of Remembrance was a tradition that was started in 2022 to give Americans the opportunity for the only time each year to walk across the plaza at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider and lay a flower. the idea here is that we ant the public to connect with this gravesite," said Allison Finkelstein, a senior historian.

Another tradition at the cemetery happened just a few days ago: Members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as the Old Guard, placed American flags on thousands of tombstones on the grounds.

"Memorial Day is a solemn holiday. It's a day of mourning when Americans are coming together to honor the war dead. And this really goes back to the civil war. It's a way that the Civil War stays with our country today and reminds us to honor those who gave their lives," Finkelstein expressed.

Freedom, sacrifice and remembrance. That's what Memorial Day is all about.