For the past 10 years, the number of American flags planted in the lawn outside Southern Regional High School’s 9/10 building, unfortunately, has grown each time the school’s Air Force Junior ROTC cadets set up to prepare the field for the annual Memorial Day tribute.

“This year, the number went up 13 because of the Kabul bombing,” said Col. Joseph Potts, the Junior ROTC adviser for the past five years. “Each flag planted represents the 7,051 U.S.