Memorial Day
Monday, May 25, 2026
Individuals can honor Memorial Day—a day for remembering military personnel who died in service—by observing the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time, visiting cemeteries to place flags or flowers on graves, attending local ceremonies, wearing red poppies, and flying the U.S. flag at half-staff until noon.
Key Ways to Honor Memorial Day:
- National Moment of Remembrance: Pause for one minute of silence at 3:00 PM local time to honor the fallen.
- Visit Memorials/Cemeteries: Pay respects by placing flowers, wreaths, or flags on the graves of service members.
- Attend Ceremonies: Participate in local parades, wreath-layings, or community memorial events.
- Fly the Flag Properly: Display the American flag at half-staff from sunrise until noon, then raise it to full-staff until sunset.
- Wear a Red Poppy: Wear this symbol of remembrance to show respect for fallen heroes.
- Support Military Families: Recognize Gold Star Families—those who have lost loved ones in service—and support veterans' causes.
- Share Stories: Educate others by sharing stories or photos of fallen service members on social media.
- Participate in Tributes: Engage in activities like the "Murph" workout or local Memorial Day running races.
While often a long weekend, the focus of the day is on honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.