Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day when the tradition of decorating Civil War graves began in 1866. It still brings loved ones to the graves of the deceased, often with flowers as grave decorations. To honor Veterans buried in national cemeteries, VA staff and volunteers typically place American flags -- either individual small ones on each grave, usually placed by volunteers, or “avenues of flags” flanking both sides of the cemetery main entrance road. Often these flags are the burial flags donated by next of kin of Veterans buried in the cemetery.
VA maintains more than three million gravesites at its 131 national cemeteries. In 2010, VA conducted more than 111,800 burials in its national cemeteries. The number of annual interments is expected to increase over the next two years. This year’s budget for VA national cemetery operation and construction is nearly $446 million.
“The fallen warriors we honor on Memorial Day cherished liberty and freedom enough to lay down their lives to preserve our way of life,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We owe them eternal gratitude and we must pass those sentiments on to future generations.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will continue a tradition of hosting ceremonies at its national cemeteries and other facilities nationwide. Many of the programs are the centerpiece of Memorial Day events in their communities, honoring deceased Veterans and military members.
President Obama will speak at Arlington National Cemetery with VA Deputy Secretary W. Scott Gould in attendance.
Secretary Shinseki will deliver the keynote address at a Memorial Day ceremony at Fort Richardson National Cemetery in Alaska, emphasizing VA’s goal of improving service to Veterans in rural areas. VA’s Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, Steve Muro, will speak at the dedication of a new state Veterans cemetery in Newton, Miss. The Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery was constructed with a VA grant of nearly $7 million. VA’s Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, Tammy Duckworth, will lay a wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, then speak at the Hawaii State Veterans Ceremony.
More than 100,000 people are expected to attend activities at VA's national cemeteries, with color guards, readings, bands and choir performances. Events will honor more than one million men and women who died in military service during wartime, including more than 655,000 battle deaths.
At Rock Island National Cemetery in Illinois, Rep. Bobby Schilling will present the son of a deceased World War I veteran with his father’s Silver Star certificate.
On May 29, at Riverside National Cemetery in Southern California volunteers will read aloud the names of more than 5,000 people who were buried there since last year’s Memorial Day.
Riders with the Buffalo Soldier Motorcycle Club of Albuquerque, N.M., will arrive at Santa Fe National Cemetery May 28 to lay a wreath at its memorial recognizing the unknown soldiers, women and children who died at the nearby site of the Army’s Fort Craig in the late 1800s. Many of the Fort Craig remains, including Buffalo Soldiers, were reburied in 1976 at other military cemeteries. Three Buffalo Soldiers were later identified and laid to rest in marked graves at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Buffalo Soldiers served in African American regiments that were given that name by the Indian tribes they fought and impressed with their bravery.
Probably one of the more famous rides on this respected weekend is Rolling Thunder. Rolling Thunder was established in 1987 and incorporated in 1995. Since that first ride in 1987, Rolling Thunder has conducted the “Rolling Thunder Run” on Memorial Day Weekend which all of its members attend. Every year the members of Rolling Thunder converge on Washington, D.C to show their continued support for the efforts to find lost service men and women of past conflicts. By May 2008 that number had risen to more than 350,000.
This year Combat Veterans of America Motorcycle Club will host Rolling Thunder XXIV Sunday at 8 a.m. Motorcycles will depart from VFW Post 1503 in Dale City, cruise to Washington, D.C., and end at the Holocaust Museum. A check will be presented to a Hope For The Warriors representative before riders head out of Dale City. Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit organization that supports wounded U.S. service members, their families, and families of the fallen.
Marines from the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion will lead the highway procession with one of their tactical vehicles, the LAV-25. Riders can either park their motorcycles behind the Holocaust Museum to enjoy Memorial Day in the city or continue on to ride in the Rolling Thunder parade departing from the Pentagon at noon. A commemorative ceremony will be staged directly in front of the Lincoln Memorial following the parade.
VA maintains more than three million gravesites at its 131 national cemeteries. In 2010, VA conducted more than 111,800 burials in its national cemeteries. The number of annual interments is expected to increase over the next two years. This year’s budget for VA national cemetery operation and construction is nearly $446 million.
“The fallen warriors we honor on Memorial Day cherished liberty and freedom enough to lay down their lives to preserve our way of life,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We owe them eternal gratitude and we must pass those sentiments on to future generations.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will continue a tradition of hosting ceremonies at its national cemeteries and other facilities nationwide. Many of the programs are the centerpiece of Memorial Day events in their communities, honoring deceased Veterans and military members.
President Obama will speak at Arlington National Cemetery with VA Deputy Secretary W. Scott Gould in attendance.
Secretary Shinseki will deliver the keynote address at a Memorial Day ceremony at Fort Richardson National Cemetery in Alaska, emphasizing VA’s goal of improving service to Veterans in rural areas. VA’s Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, Steve Muro, will speak at the dedication of a new state Veterans cemetery in Newton, Miss. The Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery was constructed with a VA grant of nearly $7 million. VA’s Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, Tammy Duckworth, will lay a wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, then speak at the Hawaii State Veterans Ceremony.
More than 100,000 people are expected to attend activities at VA's national cemeteries, with color guards, readings, bands and choir performances. Events will honor more than one million men and women who died in military service during wartime, including more than 655,000 battle deaths.
At Rock Island National Cemetery in Illinois, Rep. Bobby Schilling will present the son of a deceased World War I veteran with his father’s Silver Star certificate.
On May 29, at Riverside National Cemetery in Southern California volunteers will read aloud the names of more than 5,000 people who were buried there since last year’s Memorial Day.
Riders with the Buffalo Soldier Motorcycle Club of Albuquerque, N.M., will arrive at Santa Fe National Cemetery May 28 to lay a wreath at its memorial recognizing the unknown soldiers, women and children who died at the nearby site of the Army’s Fort Craig in the late 1800s. Many of the Fort Craig remains, including Buffalo Soldiers, were reburied in 1976 at other military cemeteries. Three Buffalo Soldiers were later identified and laid to rest in marked graves at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Buffalo Soldiers served in African American regiments that were given that name by the Indian tribes they fought and impressed with their bravery.
This year Combat Veterans of America Motorcycle Club will host Rolling Thunder XXIV Sunday at 8 a.m. Motorcycles will depart from VFW Post 1503 in Dale City, cruise to Washington, D.C., and end at the Holocaust Museum. A check will be presented to a Hope For The Warriors representative before riders head out of Dale City. Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit organization that supports wounded U.S. service members, their families, and families of the fallen.
Marines from the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion will lead the highway procession with one of their tactical vehicles, the LAV-25. Riders can either park their motorcycles behind the Holocaust Museum to enjoy Memorial Day in the city or continue on to ride in the Rolling Thunder parade departing from the Pentagon at noon. A commemorative ceremony will be staged directly in front of the Lincoln Memorial following the parade.