President Joe Biden commemorated Americans who died serving the nation on Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, dedicated to the services of all US service members whose remains have not been identified.
“We’re free because they were brave. Here on these gentle rolling green hills and across America and around the globe lie buried the heroes of the greatest experiment the world has ever known, ever seen,” said Biden at the event.
First lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley also attended the wreath-laying ceremony.
The president called on Americans to protect democracy, which he said is in danger both in the United States and around the world, to honor the sacrifice of late soldiers.
DC had a number of Memorial Day ceremonies mourning the war dead of the country.
Members of the Memorial Day Flowers Foundation and volunteers gathered at the Arlington National Cemetery and placed thousands of roses at headstones. The cemetery is now open to the public from 8 am to 5 pm every day.
A small in-person ceremony was held at The Wall by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with a limited number of participants in compliance with the city’s COVID-19 guidelines. It was live-streamed on the group’s website and its Facebook page.
Another event is being hosted by the Military Women’s Memorial at 4 pm at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, which will be their 24th annual Memorial Day ceremony. The free event, planned to be open to the public, will feature a keynote address from UnitingUS Vice President Cynthia Scott Johnson. “The non-profit UnitingUS brings together servicemembers and their communities to experience the healing and uniting power of the full spectrum of the arts,” according to the event brief.
There will also be remarks from past and present military women representing each of the six services; and the scattering of rose petals in tribute to departed soldiers.
The National Memorial Day Parade will take place virtually along Constitution Avenue and will be live-streamed on the American Forces Network at 5 pm local time. It will feature “on site historical re-enactors, veterans, and active duty military personnel, joined by musical performances and celebrity appearances.” All will be filmed for a television special airing from Memorial Day through July 4 on ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox stations nationwide.
Veterans and Athletes United honored fallen soldiers by adding thousands of military dog tags on a massive American flag memorial in chronological order, representing the late service members.
On Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, Metrorail will operate from 8 am to 11 pm. Metrobus service will vary by route, with buses running on a Sunday schedule.
Metro’s service information for Memorial Day is as follows:
Metrorail
- Metrorail will open at 8 a.m. and close at 11 p.m.
- Trains every 12 minutes on the Red Line and every 15 minutes on all other lines during daytime hours.
- After 7 p.m., trains every 15 minutes on the Red Line and every 20 minutes on all other lines.
- Due to the summer Platform Improvement Project that runs continuously through September 6:
- West Hyattsville, Prince George’s Plaza, College Park-U of Md and Greenbelt closed.
- Free shuttle buses provided to/from the closed stations. Read here for details and travel alternatives.
- Off-peak fares will be in effect all day and parking will be free at all Metro-owned parking facilities.
Metrobus
- Buses will operate on a Sunday schedule.
- Service varies by route, check timetables for details.
MetroAccess
- All subscription trips will be canceled Monday.
- Customers wishing to travel on the holiday should make a separate reservation online (text only) or by calling 301-562-5360 (TTY 301-588-7535)