VA hosting Memorial Day events at 130+ national cemeteries

In St. Louis, a volunteer is shown removing American flags from the graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on May 28, 2024. Scouts had previously placed an American flag on each of the 247,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks before last year’s Memorial Day event. The photo was taken by Bill Greenblatt/UPI.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced on Tuesday that more than 130 national cemeteries will be hosting Memorial Day events across the country, expecting around 100,000 attendees in total.

VA Secretary Doug Collins highlighted the importance of honoring fallen servicemembers and encouraged Americans to visit VA cemeteries over Memorial Day weekend to pay their respects.

All of the VA’s 156 national cemeteries and 35 soldiers’ lots will be open to the public from Friday through Monday. The ceremonies will be livestreamed, and photos and videos will be shared on the National Cemetery Administration’s social media pages.

The VA has published a list of Memorial Day events and visiting hours for national cemeteries, allowing people to find the nearest location to pay their respects. The public is also invited to explore the Veterans Legacy Memorial website to read biographies, tributes, and submit their own content.

There are over 10 million veterans interred in national cemeteries, VA grant-funded cemeteries, Department of Defense-managed cemeteries, and private cemeteries, all of whom are eligible for a VA gravesite marker and other benefits.