VA again to host public Memorial Day ceremonies

2022-05-26T21:38:52-04:00

Starting Memorial Day weekend, members of the public can for the first time since 2019 attend public wreath-laying ceremonies hosted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA), VA announced this week.

“There is no more fitting place to reflect upon the service and sacrifice of America’s Veterans and service members than in a national cemetery,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough in a news release inviting Veterans, families and the public to honor the fallen in person at events across the country May 28 through May 30. “Here lie those who served, sacrificed and — in many cases — gave their lives for us and our country. We are forever in their debt.”

To limit the spread of COVID-19, such commemorations were not open to the public in 2020 or 2021. In time for last year’s Memorial Day, NCA on May 26 lifted restrictions on the number of people allowed to attend committal and memorial services at all of its 155 national cemeteries and 34 soldiers’ lots and monument sites in 43 states and Puerto Rico. But NCA was still unable to hold the type of public Memorial Day events that military and Veteran families had attended in previous years.

According to VA, the public ceremonies that resume this year at fully staffed cemeteries include patriotic speeches, music, a moment of silence and the playing of taps. Here are a few VA officials scheduled to host public events on Memorial Day (get a complete list of ceremonies at https://www.cem.va.gov/Memorial-Day):

• McDonough presides over the wreath-laying at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen.

• VA Deputy Secretary Donald Remy presides over the wreath-laying at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in Texas.

• Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Matt Quinn attends the wreath-laying at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific — the Punchbowl — in Honolulu, and gives a keynote address at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu.

VA noted that most cemeteries are open from dawn to dusk starting May 28, and many host volunteers that place small American flags in front of headstones at gravesites. Americans unable to attend a ceremony or cemetery in person can leave a tribute to a fallen service member or Veteran at the Veterans Legacy Memorial, linked below.

Adopt a gravesite

You can also “adopt a gravesite” for someone who is not able to attend a loved one’s gravesite in person, thanks to an initiative started by VA’s Veterans Experience Office, NCA and the RallyPoint community. Read the original post outlining the process at http://rly.pt/3nznKKi. Here’s how to take part:

• If you’re looking for someone to visit your Veteran, click the link above and type LOOKING and the cemetery in the search bar at the top of the page. Share a few details about your Veteran so the volunteer can best honor their service.

• If you’re offering to visit a Veteran gravesite for someone, type VISITING and the cemetery’s name. Consider taking a picture from your visit and sending it to the Veteran family member or loved one who requested the visit or posting it to the thread at the link above.

• If you are not sure where your Veteran is buried or interred, use the NCA Nationwide Gravesite Locator at http://rly.pt/3bvEXls. A virtual platform for remembrance is also available at http://rly.pt/3nD3CGW.

Learn more

• “VA national cemeteries to host public Memorial Day ceremonies after two years without gatherings,” VA news release, May 23: https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5791

• Leave a tribute at the Veterans Legacy Memorial: https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov

• “VA encourages volunteers to ‘Carry The Load’ for an American hero during trek across country,” VA news release, April 22: https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5787

• “10 sources of financial help for children whose parent died in military service,” RallyPoint article, May 13: https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/children-of-the-fallen-patriots-day-10-sources-of-financial-help-for-children-whose-parent-died-in-military-service

• “May is National Military Appreciation Month: 5 ideas for celebrating your military & Veteran peers, family & friends,” RallyPoint article, May 9: https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/may-is-national-military-appreciation-month-five-ideas-for-celebrating-your-military-veteran-peers-family-friends

• “RallyPoint members pay tribute to Veterans during the pandemic,” VA blog, Jan. 28, 2021, https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/83892/rallypoint-members-pay-tribute-veterans-pandemic

VA.gov | Veterans Affairs

Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.

Response by PFC Andrew "Tommy" M. made Jun 1 at 2022 2:23 AM

2022-06-01T02:23:58-04:00

I hope many were able to attend

Response by LTC George Morgan made Jun 3 at 2022 1:59 PM

2022-06-03T13:59:51-04:00

This news is most welcome...

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Jun 4 at 2022 4:29 AM

2022-06-04T04:29:21-04:00

Shown here is a portion of our local Memorial Day Ceremonies at the Veteran's Memorial park in from of the Veteran's Memorial Building which is the Town Hall for Millis, Massachusetts. The activities also included a parade as well a another ceremony at the Prospect Hill Cemetery (A Registered National Historic site ) in which two Millis Medal of Honor holders are buried. I'm the third from the left in the front row in this picture and served as Master of ceremonies for the Millis Memorial Day observance and like the others shown here also had marched in the parade. The firing squad that fired a salute at both locations was made up from Members of Millis American Legion Post 208 and Millis, AMVETS, Post 495. the The Millis High School band played all the music for the ceremonies including the National anthem, other selections and taps plus they marched in the parade. My seventeen year old Granddaughter also played with the Millis High School Band and marched in that parade. My 96 year old Father, a WWII Navy Veteran and member of Legion Post 208, Millis also attended along with My sister and brother in law.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jul 29 at 2022 11:22 AM

2022-07-29T11:22:52-04:00

Thanks for sharing.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jul 31 at 2022 4:53 PM

2022-07-31T16:53:11-04:00

I certainly hope the staff is manned well and able to stop any unwanted activity on property . Other than that I applaud the concept.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Sep 25 at 2022 2:24 PM

2022-09-25T14:24:20-04:00

Great atticle!