Memorial altars for the 46 deceased sailors of the “Cheonan” vessel’s sinking have been set up at South Korean missions overseas.

The embassy in Washington prepared an altar and Ambassador Han Duck-soo, embassy employees and Korean residents lit incense and laid flowers there.

Korean embassies in China, the U.K., France and Russia have also set up altars, which will be open through Thursday, the day of the funeral. The embassies will fly the Korean flag at half-mast on the day of the funeral ceremony.

Ethnic Korean groups abroad have also opened altars to receive mourners while some are raising funds for the bereaved families.