For many families, Memorial Day means a long holiday weekend spent at the beach or lake, a backyard cookout and extra time to spend together. As the daughter of a career Army soldier, Memorial Day for me as a child was about honoring and remembering America's heroes - the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. On all of the military posts where we lived, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops decorated the graves of veterans with American flags every year prior to Memorial Day.
Memorial Day was originally created to honor the fallen soldiers from the American Civil War by decorating their graves with flags and flowers. Over time, Memorial Day became a day to honor the fallen from all wars. How can you teach your kids the true meaning of Memorial Day while still enjoying the start of summer? Spend an hour at a Memorial Day observance to begin your day, wherever you are.
Planning a weekend in Washington D.C.? Arlington National Cemetery, located just outside Washington, D.C., is the final resting place for more than 400,000 active duty service members, veterans, and their families. The following events will take place over the Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery and in Washington:
Prior to Memorial Day weekend, "Flags In" is a tradition honoring America's fallen heroes. All available soldiers in the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard, participate in this tradition, placing small American flags at each headstone and at the bottom of each niche row in the cemetery's Columbarium Courts. American flags are also placed in front of the four memorials and the headstones located on Chaplain's Hill in Section 2, at the gravesites of the unknown interred at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and at the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery. All of the flags are removed after Memorial Day.
Saturday, May 25: Rolling Thunder's annual Run For The Wall 10-day cross country motorcycle ride ends at Arlington National Cemetery. Participants will arrive at the cemetery on motorcycles and conduct a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beginning at 10:15 a.m.
Sunday, May 26 at 12 PM: Rolling Thunder annual First Amendment Demonstration Run begins at the Pentagon parking lots and winds through the streets of Washington, then to West Potomac Park, where the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located.
Sunday, May 26 at 3 PM: National Memorial Day Choral Festival takes place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Free event tickets will be available at the Music Celebrations International will-call table located in the lobby of the Kennedy Center beginning at 2 PM on Sunday.
Sunday, May 26 at 8 PM: The National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capital. The award-winning free concert is televised live on PBS and to troops serving around the world.
Monday, May 27 at 9 AM: WWII Memorial Wreath Laying Ceremony
Monday, May 27 at 10:30 AM: United States Coast Guard Band begins the prelude concert inside Memorial Amphitheater.
Monday, May 27 at 11 AM: Presidential Armed Forces Full Honor Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier followed by an observance program hosted by Department of Defense in Arlington’s Memorial Amphitheater. The Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony and Concert is attended by approximately 5,000 visitors, so plan to arrive early.
Monday, May 27 at 1 PM: Vietnam Veterans Wreath laying ceremony.
Monday, May 27 at 2 PM: Annual Memorial Day Observance at Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Honoring the fallen service men and women of the Vietnam War.
Monday, May 27 at 2 PM: The National Memorial Day Parade includes marching bands, floats, performers, and veterans parading on Constitution Avenue. Arrive early to find a place to stand.
If you're staying closer to home for the weekend, visit Monument Terrace in Lynchburg, the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, or American Legion Post 104 in Appomattox. There will be Memorial Day observances at all of these locations on Memorial Day (Monday, May 27, 2019) at 11 a.m. Spend a few extra minutes looking at the names inscribed on the walls of the memorials and saying thanks. Freedom isn't free.
