WORCESTER, Mass. — For Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis, Memorial Day is one of the more important ones on his calendar. It's why for five consecutive years, he's helped lead the charge placing flags on the graves of veterans in Worcester's Saint John's cemetery.

"I couldn't think of a greater honor to do than put out flags to memorialize those who made the ultimate sacrifice on Memorial Day, which, especially us in elected office realize, is our most sacred day as Americans," Evangelidis said.

The sheriff's office, reserve deputy's association, and a number of partner organizations placed more than 5,000 American flags Wednesday morning. The day starts with a small ceremony, before volunteers scatter throughout the cemetery.

The tradition started during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the cemetery asked the sheriff's office to help lay down the flags.

"It's astonishing when you see how many flags are put out when we're done, how many people have served this country and/or made the ultimate sacrifice," the sheriff said. "It's really incredible. And I think we all get so much more out of it than we put into it. It's an honor to do this."