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National Events For Memorial Weekend 2018

24 May 2018 by

NATIONAL EVENTS FOR MEMORIAL WEEKEND

Memorial Weekend Events Washington DC Area: 

National Memorial Day Concert Washington DC, Sunday, May 27, 2018, 8 p.m. EST Gates open at 5 p.m. PBS sponsors a FREE concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. On the eve of Memorial Day, a star-studded lineup will grace the stage for one of PBS’ highest-rated programs. The National Memorial Day Concert features uplifting musical performances, documentary footage and dramatic readings that honor the military service of all our men and women in uniform and their families at home. One of PBS’ highest-rated programs, featuring an all-star lineup, the multi-award-winning television event has become an American tradition.

The concert unites the country in remembrance and appreciation of those who gave their lives for our nation and serves those who are grieving through the mission put forward by Abraham Lincoln in his second inaugural address, "Let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan."

National Memorial Day Parade: Washington DC, Monday, May 28, 2018, beginning at 2 p.m. The parade will be preceded by musical performances and ceremonies at the reviewing stand at 1 p.m. at the National Archives at the corner of Seventh Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW.  The National Memorial Day Parade in 2018 will include musical performers and celebrity veterans Trace Adkins, Jerrod Niemann, Cassidy Daniels, Joe Mantegna, and Robert Irvine. This year's parade will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force, with the 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Richard Myers, acting as a grand marshal of the parade. Myers was a combat pilot in the Vietnam War and served in the Air Force for 40 years. Actor Gary Sinise and the heroes of the 15:17 to Paris, Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, and Spencer Stone, will also act as grand marshals.

Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally:  Sunday, May 27, 2018

6 AM - Reveille - Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Wake-up call for all riders taking part in the Rolling Thunder XXXI First Amendment Demonstration Run. Bikers rally in the North and South Pentagon parking lots at 7 AM for a noon departure.

9 AM - Thunder Alley Opens: Location: 22nd and Constitution Ave NW

12 PM - Rolling Thunder XXXI First Amendment Demonstration Run

First Amendment Demonstration Run - Bikes leave the North Pentagon parking lot to begin their run through the Mall area. After the run, police will direct riders to West Potomac Park, where they will pay tribute to their fallen brothers and sisters.

1:30 PM - Rolling Thunder Speakers Program (Lincoln Memorial)

3 PM - Musical tribute to Veterans - TBA

8 PM - Memorial Day Concert - at the Capitol.

Monday, May 28 - Memorial Day

9 AM - 5 PM - Thunder Alley is Open at 22nd and Constitution Ave

9 AM - WWII Memorial Wreath Laying Ceremony

11 AM - Wreath Laying Ceremony - Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery.

1 PM - Vietnam Veterans Wreath laying ceremony

2 PM - Annual Memorial Day Observance at Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Honoring the fallen service men and women of the Vietnam War.

2 PM - National Memorial Day Parade - Marching bands and veterans' units from all 50 states. Begins at the corner of Constitution Avenue and Seventh Street Northwest.

3 PM - National Moment of Remembrance

Arlington National Cemetery: Flags-In. Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) will be joined by service members from the U.S. Marine Corps Ceremonial and Guard Company, U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard in placing more than 250,000 grave decorating flags at Arlington National Cemetery. The flags will remain through Memorial Day.

Monday, May 28, 2018, 11 a.m. A wreath-laying ceremony and concert will be held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in honor of Memorial Day. 

The U.S. Army Military District of Washington will conduct a Presidential Armed Forces Full Honor Wreath-Laying Ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, to be followed by an observance program hosted by the Department of Defense in the Memorial Amphitheater. For more details visit https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/News/Post/4564/. Media interested in covering the wreath-laying or National Memorial Day Observance must register by 2 p.m., Thursday, May 24 to usarmy.mcnair.mdw.mbx.mediadesk-omb@mail.mil.
Twenty and Four, the Honor Society of Women Legionnaires, will conduct a wreath-laying ceremony at the Civil War Tomb of the Unknown in Section 26 at 1 p.m. For more information, visit http://twentyandfour.org/.

NEW YORK CITY MEMORIAL WEEKEND EVENT

New York Fleet Week: Annual New York City Fleet Week May 23-29, 2018.  This is a Free week long event which includes Parade of Ships, Navy Band Concert, Larchmont Memorial Day Parade, Joint Aviation Event, Greenpoint Veterans Memorial Parade, College Point Memorial Day Parade, Maspeth Memorial Day Parade, Village of Hastings-on-Hudson Memorial Day Parade, Fleet Week New York Community Music Festival, several General Public Visitation (ship tours), 148th Kings County Memorial Day Parade, and several other parades which can be found here.

HAMPTON ROADS MEMORIAL WEEKEND EVENTS

Hampton Roads & Virginia Memorial Weekend Events

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