Denis R. McDonough Secretary of Veterans Affairs | Oficial Website
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced plans to host Memorial Day ceremonies at over 130 national cemeteries across the United States. The events, which are intended to commemorate the lives of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation, as well as all Veterans buried in VA cemeteries, will take place throughout Memorial Day weekend.
The VA's National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is inviting Veterans, their families, caregivers, survivors, and the general public to attend these commemorative ceremonies. The events typically feature wreath-laying ceremonies accompanied by commemorative speeches, music, a moment of silence, and the playing of Taps. All VA national cemeteries will be open from dawn to dusk throughout Memorial Day weekend.
"This Memorial Day weekend, we encourage Veterans and all Americans to join us as we remember and honor our nation’s fallen heroes," said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. "We are forever indebted to the service members who gave their lives in service to our country, and we will never forget their sacrifice."
On Memorial Day itself, the VA is encouraging all Americans to honor the life and legacy of Veterans by leaving a tribute on the Veterans Legacy Memorial. This site contains a memorial page for each of the nearly 10 million Veterans interred in VA National Cemeteries, VA grant-funded cemeteries, Department of Defense-managed cemeteries (including Arlington National Cemetery), U.S. Park Service National Cemeteries, and thousands of private cemeteries where Veterans have received a VA-provided gravesite marker since 1996.
Several senior leaders from the VA will participate in these ceremonies. These include VA Secretary Denis McDonough who will speak at New York Veterans Cemetery Finger Lakes on May 27th; Deputy Secretary Tanya Bradsher who will speak at Baltimore National Cemetery on May 30th; and Chief of Staff Kimberly Jackson who will speak at Wood National Cemetery on May 27th.
In addition to these ceremonies, the VA is participating in a 20,000-mile nationwide march across the United States with 214,000 volunteers honoring Veterans, survivors, service members and families. This annual partnership between Carry the Load and NCA includes rallies at 32 VA national cemeteries, covering 20,000 miles along five separate routes across 48 states.
For more information about VA burial benefits or to plan for you and your family's needs, visit one of VA’s National Cemetery locations in-person or online at VA burial benefits and memorial items. You can also call toll free at 800-827-1000 or visit NCA’s pre-need eligibility website. Live streaming, recorded video and photographs from many ceremonies will be shared on NCA’s Facebook and Twitter pages.