HOLLY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) — The 41st day of the record-long government shutdown has forced the cancellation of the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, but local veterans and volunteers are stepping up to ensure fallen heroes are still honored.

The Heroes Operation , a local nonprofit, is organizing their own event after learning that the official event would be canceled due to the shutdown. The grassroots effort aims to place American flags at the more than 30,000 gravestones at the cemetery.

"To see it not happen, we couldn't just stand by and do nothing," said Eric Hannan, a board member of The Heroes Operation who has family buried at the cemetery.

Anthony Munafo, a Navy veteran and president of the organization, scrambled to purchase roughly

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