Memorial Day 2020: Virtual Commemorations on the National Mall
National Mall Takes Memorial Day Ceremonies Online
May 22, 2020 - There is not a more fitting backdrop than the National Mall to honor those who have served and have given their lives to the protection of our country. The National Mall gifts us with places of tribute that unifies us all in remembrance and reflection for our nation’s service men and women.
Even though traditional Memorial Day ceremonies and events on the National Mall will not take place this year due to the ongoing safeguards against the coronavirus pandemic, the National Park Service and its partners at the various veterans’ and service memorials will still honor those who gave their lives in defense of the country through virtual and online programming.
“Memorial Day is a time we normally gather at the memorials to lay a wreath in honor of the fallen, remember their heroic deeds, and draw inspiration from their sacrifice,” said Jeff Reinbold, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks. “While we may not be able to gather together in the manner in which we are accustomed, we will still ensure those who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of our country are appropriately honored and remembered on Memorial Day.”
Previously scheduled wreath laying ceremonies will take place virtually. Pre-recorded ceremonies will be posted to the Facebook pages of National Mall and Memorial Parks partner organizations on Monday, May 25.
World War II Memorial
Posted at 9 a.m. on the Friends of the National World War II Memorial Facebook page (@WWIIMemorialFriends)
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Posted at 10 a.m. on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation Facebook page (@KWVMFUSA)
U.S Navy Memorial
Posted at 1 p.m. on the U.S Navy Memorial Facebook page (@NavyMemorial)
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Posted at 1 p.m. on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Facebook page (@VietnamVeteransMemorialFund)
Other Commemorations
National Memorial Day Concert
Sunday, May 24
8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Additionally, while it will not originate from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, as is tradition, the National Memorial Day Concert will broadcast on PBS on Sunday, May 24 from 8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. as a celebration of the heroes currently fighting COVID-19.
The special will include new performances and tributes filmed in different locations around the country, and iconic stories from past concerts to honor our troops, veterans, and wounded warriors.
The concert will also be live-streamed on Facebook, YouTube, and the National Memorial Day Concert website (http://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert).
Virtual Dedication of Korean War Memorials
in all 50 States and 4 US Territories
Hannah Y Kim, a Korean American, will unveil a website (www.KoreanWarMemorials.com) that will feature photos of almost 180 Korean War Memorials she has personally visited across 6 continents in 30 countries that participated in the Korean War (1950-1953), as well as in all 50 states in the United States plus 4 U.S. Territories of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the American Samoa. The online portal will present 400 videos with stories of nearly 1,200 veterans she has met on her journeys, including her 90-day tour across America in 2018.
Originally scheduled for a launch in time for the 70th anniversary of the Korean War on June 25th, 2020, the website will make the U.S. content available sooner for Americans to visit over the Memorial Day weekend. The U.S. content includes more than 1,000 photos of nearly 100 memorials Kim visited, with a video of her interviewing local veterans and supporters at each site. And, it will feature a virtual Wall of Remembrance with the names of nearly 41,000 killed worldwide in the Korean War, including more than 36,000 Americans from each U.S. State and Territory. Visitors will be able to pay tribute by leaving comments behind.