Memorial Day

President Donald Trump participates in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday. Trump went on to deliver Memorial Day remarks at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.

National

Trump Praises Fallen Soldiers In Memorial Day Ceremonies

3:32pm May 25, 2020

by Matthew S. Schwartz

The president spoke at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, where American forces repelled the British during the War of 1812. Trump praised the soldiers now fighting the coronavirus.

The Washington Monument and the dome of the U.S. Capitol Building are visible behind the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va., on Memorial Day.

National

Memorial Day Honor Flights Canceled Because Of Coronavirus Crisis

9:29am May 25, 2020

by Quil Lawrence

Thousands of people who were planning to visit war memorials in Washington, D.C., on Memorial Day had to cancel this year. That includes veterans traveling with the nonprofit network Honor Flight.

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Local Veterans Connect Virtually To Commemorate Memorial Day

2:46pm May 22, 2020

As Memorial Day approaches, veterans are among the groups of people who will not be able to come together in person in remembrance of those lost.

U.S. flags will fly at half-staff on federal and military posts through Sunday as President Trump orders a remembrance of the nearly 100,000 people who have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. Earlier this month, flags in the hard-hit state of New York flew at

President Trump Orders Flags To Fly At Half-Staff As U.S. Mourns Nearly 100,000 Dead

11:40am May 22, 2020

by Bill Chappell

Flags will be lowered from Friday through Sunday's sunset in a show of national mourning and remembrance.

People eat in a deserted food court inside a mall west of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Monday. U.S. states have been easing restrictions on businesses ahead of Memorial Day, the traditional start of the summer vacation and outdoor season.

National

All 50 U.S. States Have Now Started To Reopen, Easing COVID-19 Shutdown

6:19pm May 20, 2020

by Bill Chappell

All 50 states have at least partially eased tight restrictions on businesses, with a mix of policies letting restaurants or stores welcome customers.

Pier Fries in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, was open and serving recently, but a few restaurants have announced they will close permanently.

Maine's Seasonal Businesses Feeling Economic Effects Of The Coronavirus

7:01am May 16, 2020

by Fred Bever

Maine's economy relies heavily on summer tourism. With Memorial Day around the corner, many business owners are figuring out when and whether they'll be allowed to reopen.

President Bill Clinton delivers a speech during Memorial Day ceremonies at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1993.

Opinion: A Lesson From Memorial Day, 1993

3:09pm February 15, 2020

by Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon ponders the loss of civility and respect in public discourse.

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In this Dec. 24, 2011 file photo, a soldier walks with his family following a ceremony at Fort Hood, Texas, for soldiers from the U.S. Army 1st Cavalry 3rd Brigade, who returned home from deployment in Iraq.

National

A U.S. Army Tweet Asking 'How Has Serving Impacted You?' Got An Agonizing Response

7:13pm May 27, 2019

In response to the May 23 tweet, thousands of veterans and their loved ones shared stories of trauma, depression, illness, sexual assault and suicide.

National

'Cog In A Machine,' 'Alone And Afraid': Tweeting Vets Give Army An Earful

4:48pm May 27, 2019

by Shannon Van Sant

The U.S. Army asked service members on Twitter: How has serving impacted you? Some veterans and their family members sent strong message about the sacrifices they've made and continue to make.

U.S. Marine Tim Chambers salutes to participants in last year's Rolling Thunder motorcycle demonstration.

National

Rolling To A Halt: Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally Ends 30-Year Tradition

4:56pm May 25, 2019

by Cat Schuknecht

Motorcyclists with the veteran advocacy group, Rolling Thunder Inc., will gather in Washington, D.C., for the last time this weekend. The group cites financial issues as its main reason for quitting.