To observe Veterans Day and Memorial Day, the streets in Duluth are traditionally lined with more than 700 markers and flags representing deceased veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces with a Duluth connection. The flags and markers are on display a week before and after the holidays.

This year Veterans Day fell on Sunday, Nov. 11, and is being officially observed Monday, Nov. 12. Due to road construction some of the markers normally placed on Pleasant Hill Road have been relocated to Buford Highway.

The markers consist of a white cross bearing the name of the veteran and the war or conflict in which the veteran served, if applicable. The markers are topped with American flags.

The city’s Public Works Department spends three days erecting all the markers and a similar amount of time taking the markers down and storing them. Costs are also involved in creating, maintaining and replacing markers.

The city recently implemented revised eligibility requirements for obtaining veterans markers and a $100 fee for initial installation and maintenance. According to city officials, there also are increasing incidents of marker requests for ineligible veterans.

Future requests are limited to service after World War II.

Here are the eligibility requirements for requesting a veterans marker:

• Person being honored must be deceased;
• Person being honored must have served in the United States Armed Forces from the period of WWI to present day, but not necessarily in conflict;
• Applicant must show proof by military service submitting an official document.
• Person requesting marker must live within the corporate city limits of Duluth.
• There is a lifetime limit of five requests per person.

The applicant also must agree to the following terms:

• I understand and agree that the marker will be placed where the city deems appropriate and that I may not request special placement. I understand and agree that if I physically modify, relocate or otherwise alter the appearance or location of the marker, the marker may no longer be displayed and I may forfeit my ability to make future application.
• I understand and agree that markers will only be made and displayed for those persons where proof of enlistment or commission in the United States military is provided. Click here for a link to request documents proving military service. 
• I understand and agree that displays such as flowers, bows, etc. may be placed on the marker while on display, but any mementoes will be discarded by the city when the marker is placed in storage.

If the marker requestor’s application is ineligible based on the requirements, the requestor may appeal to the mayor, city manager or city council for further consideration.

The application must be signed to be processed by the city. Click here for a link to obtain a copy of the application. For more information, contact the Duluth Department of Public Works at 770-476-2454.