Arlington National Cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater celebrates 100th Anniversary
Today, Arlington National Cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater celebrates its 100th anniversary. In 1920, for the first time, the nation’s Memorial Day ceremony (then known as Decoration Day) was held at the brand new Memorial Amphitheater. For a century it has served as the setting for the National Memorial Day Observance, at which the president of the United States traditionally gives a public address after laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Wreaths Across America places 142,000 wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery
More than 25,000 volunteers and 1,000 local fundraising groups in all 50 states participated in this year’s Wreaths Across America holiday event. They placed wreaths at Veteran gravesites at nearly 900 locations within the U.S. and overseas. For most, the picturesque wreath-laden graves may be the most obvious takeaway. For me, it was the volunteers placing the wreaths. This past Dec. 14, before starting to [...]
VA Lends a Hand to Arlington National Cemetery
VA has partnered with the Department of the Army to implement new management and technology at Arlington National Cemetery.
Alexandria – not Arlington – was first national cemetery
The first cemetery for federal soldiers and the first burial ground for U.S. Colored Troops was the small national cemetery in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Watch the video to learn more!
Organizations offer national-level 2021 Veterans Day virtual events
VA and several national level organizations are hosting 2021 Veterans Day virtual events due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Honoring the fallen: Band shoots video in national cemetery
Following the success of a Memorial Day video in 2020, the Air Force Band was back at Culpeper National Cemetery in Virginia April 26 to shoot a video for Memorial Day 2021. The band returned to the site to pay respect and film a tribute to those who lost their lives in war.
2021 National Veterans Day Poster Contest open for submissions
The 2021 National Veterans Day Poster Contest is underway. Each year the Veterans Day National Committee publishes a commemorative Veterans Day poster.
Organizations offer national-level 2020 Veterans Day virtual events
Several national level organizations are hosting 2020 Veterans Day virtual events Nov. 11 due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Friendship in Death: The Nimitz Plot at Golden Gate National Cemetery
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz decided that, in death, he wanted to join his men at Golden Gate with a standard military funeral and regulation headstone. He took steps to assure that the shipmates closest to him during World War II could join him.
Memorial Day 2020 Live Stream from VA National Cemeteries
Each VA national cemetery will conduct a brief wreath laying ceremony, accompanied by a moment of silence and the playing of Taps. In keeping with CDC guidelines to limit large gatherings, the ceremonies will not be open to the public. Learn more: VA national cemeteries to commemorate Memorial Day. Instead of attending ceremonies in person, VA invites you to participate virtually. Live stream links and videos of the [...]
2020 National Veterans Day Poster Contest
Calling all artists! The 2020 National Veterans Day Poster Contest is underway. Each year the Veterans Day National Committee publishes a commemorative Veterans Day poster. The Committee selects a poster from artwork submitted by artists nationwide. It also distributes the winning design to VA facilities, military installations around the world, and across cities and towns in our nation. It then serves as the cover of [...]
Volunteers lay wreaths at national cemeteries
Thousands of volunteers laid wreaths at VA national cemeteries across the U.S. as part of National Wreaths Across America Day Dec. 14.
