On the day before the nation honors its war dead, a small army of Scouts fanned across the emerald green lawn of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific to place lei and tiny U.S. flags on the graves of the men and women who fought in six wars.

It's all part of the Scouts' Good Turn Day, where members of the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts give back to the community by placing flags and lei on each of the 36,000 graves for today's 60th annual Mayor's Memorial Day Ceremony, which begins at 8:30 a.m. at Punchbowl.

"It's one of the things we in the Boy Scouts love to do," said Ron Foronda, Aloha Council director of programs and marketing. "We want to teach the Scouts to respect others and to be good citizens."

About 1,100 Scouts yesterday walked the mile from where they parked to the cemetery to attend a brief ceremony before placing the flags and lei. In a span of about 20 minutes, a sea of red, white and blue flags fluttered in the breeze. Some Scouts scattered through their sections, others went row by row, placing a flag and saluting as they went.

Zach Storch, a Mililani High School student, push-ed each wooden stick into the middle of each grave marker. Each grave received his individual attention to ensure the flag was straight and true.

"It's an honor and a privilege to respect the dead who gave their life for our country," said 17-year-old Zach.

A young Cub Scout came up behind Zach and other Boy Scouts and placed one of the more than 50,000 lei donated by senior citizens and school-age children. A portion of the lei donations were sent to the Hawai'i State Veterans Cemetery in Kane'ohe, where other Scouts spent an hour placing lei and flags on the graves of 8,000 veterans.

While the Boy Scouts were busy on the lawns of the cemetery at Punchbowl, Girl Scouts decorated the chapel, said Gene Castagnetti, director of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

"These are the future of our country," Castagnetti said. "We are teaching them about the deceased veterans whom we honor on Memorial Day and how it takes sacrifice to protect America's ideals."

David DeCaires, Boy Scouts of America executive for the Ko'olau and Hukilau districts, said the Scouts are just providing service to their community.

The Boy Scout slogan is "Do a good turn daily," DeCaires said. "And this event is known as a good turn, and this event fits all those requirements.

"It's a like a swarm, and you look out at all the flags and it's goose-bump city."