Annapolis Area Memorial Day Events
Annapolis Memorial Day Parade
The Annapolis Memorial Day Parade is on Monday, May 29th, starting at 10am. There will be marching bands, Veteran's groups, and look for our Macaroni KID Annapolis bubble truck.
Crownsville Veterans Cemetery
Honor fallen military service members during the Memorial Day commemoration ceremony at Crownsville State Veterans Cemetery on Monday, May 29 at 11:00am. The cemetery is located at 1122 Sunrise Beach Rd. in Crownsville. Patriotic music will be performed by The Maryland Defense Force Band and refreshments will be provided after the program by American Legion Post #7.
World War II Memorial
Stop by the WWII Memorial in Annapolis anytime to this weekend or anytime to pay your respect to the men and women of Maryland who gave their lives during World War II. The memorial overlooks the Severn River and is located at 1920 Governor Ritchie Hwy in Annapolis.
Closed on Memorial Day: Libraries, City of Annapolis, Stanton Center, "Pip" Moyer Recreation Center, and no trash pick up
Washington, D.C. Area Events
Arlington National Cemetery
The Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Day ceremony takes place on Monday, May 29, 2023, at the Amphitheater. The president of the United States typically delivers an address at the ceremony. Numerous military and government organizations also conduct services. All ceremonies and special events are free and open to the public.
National Memorial Day Concert
The National Memorial Day Concert will be broadcast on Sunday, May 28, 2023, starting at 8 p.m. ET. It will be livestreamed on PBS. The 2022 event was broadcast live from the West Front of the United States Capitol.
National Memorial Day Parade
Hosted by the American Veterans Center, the National Memorial Day Parade returns to Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., on Monday, May 29, 2023, starting at 2 p.m. The parade will be broadcast live, followed by a televised program Our Sacred Honor: An American Salute, airing on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW stations nationwide.
National Museum of the United States Army
The National Museum of the United States Army in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, plans a full weekend of Memorial Day events from Friday, May 26, through Monday, May 29, 2023, which are included in general admission. Each day, these include a flag display, poppy flower-making activity, and hands-on history exhibits. Additionally, on Monday, there will be a screening of the documentary “Dear Sirs: A Personal Journey Through World War II 75 Years Later” and a Memorial Day Remembrance and Moment of Silence. Click here for details.
"Rolling To Remember" Rally
A series of events to honor the nation's prisoners of war and missing-in-action is set to take place over the Memorial Day weekend in Washington, D.C. The "Rolling To Remember" rally will conclude with a ride by thousands of bikers from RFK to the National Mall on Sunday, May 28, 2023. The motorcycle demonstration ride, hosted by AMVETS, is also a call for action to prevent veteran suicides. View the 2023 Facebook event here.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Annual Observance at The Wall
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Annual Observance at The Wall is set for on Monday, May 29, 2023, at 5 Henry Bacon Dr NW, Washington, D.C. A wreath-laying will take place from 9:45-10:15 a.m. At noon, a ceremony begins on the East Knoll. It will be broadcast on the organization’s Facebook page and at vvmf.org/live.
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Did you know...
- The Grand Army of the Republic began decorating the graves of fallen service members with flowers in May 1868, which was then known as "Decoration Day."
- In 1971 Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday, to be observed on the last Monday in May, moving it from the static date of May 30, in order to create a 3-day weekend.
- On the Thursday before Memorial Day, small American flags are placed at each of the 400,000+ gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery and other cemeteries nationwide.
- To encourage more people to observe Memorial Day, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act in 2000, which asks people to stop what they are doing at 3 p.m. local time and observe a minute of silence to honor those who lost their lives defending the country.
- On Memorial Day, the flag should first be raised to the top of the staff, then slowly lowered to half-staff, until noon when it should be raised to the top of the staff for the rest of the day.
- Red poppies are considered the Memorial Day flower. It's referenced in the poem "In Flanders Fields." and refers to the fields of poppies growing among soldiers' graves during WWI.
