Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor those who lost their lives while serving in the US military, protecting freedom and liberty around the world.
This year, Memorial Day tribute services at National Parks are virtual because of the Pandemic, with participation by 30 parks across 12 states and the District of Columbia, including Civil War battlefields and national cemeteries.
The Virtual Memorial Day Tribute begins at 8am EDT and spans more than 13 hours of livestreams, demonstrations, historic talks about the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War and beyond.
There’s also a video of park rangers from Maryland to Montana reciting the Gettysburg Address, and, of course, the ceremonial playing of Taps.
Beginning at 8 a.m. EDT on Monday, May 25, 2020 and spanning more than 13 hours, the commemorative event will feature a series of livestreams, demonstrations, and historic talks about the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War and beyond, as well as a video of park rangers from Maryland to Montana reciting the Gettysburg Address.
The event is being coordinated by Vicksburg National Military Park and will be available on Facebook.
The National Park Service (NPS) provides numerous opportunities for Americans to explore and learn about our country’s military history and reflect on the sacrifices made by the men and women of the armed forces, including at national cemeteries.
Find out more here, on the NPS site for military sites, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Civil War battlefields.
National Parks open on Memorial Day Weekend 2020
At this time, more than 280 of the 419 units of the NPS have outdoor areas available, however some facilities and services may be limited.
The NPS asks visitors to recreate responsibly by following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local orders to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Visitors should make a plan by researching park conditions in advance, stay close to home, recreate with people in their household and maintain social distance from others, postpone challenging hikes and activities, and bring home everything they brought with them. These simple steps will help keep you, others, and park resources safe.
As operations are changing on a park-by-park basis, visitors should check with individual parks for specific details about their operations, including campgrounds.
Visit NPS.gov for more information about Memorial Day events, military-themed stories of people and places in the National Park System and trip-planning information for military parks.
“The National Park Service has many memorials and monuments dedicated to honoring military service and sacrifice throughout our nation’s history,” said NPS Deputy Director, exercising the authority of the Director, David Vela in a statement.
“Our staff, partners, and volunteers are hard at work for the American people, continuing to provide engaging virtual opportunities and basic in-park services, while we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
FREE passes for active US military
Current U.S. military members and dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard as well as Reserve and National Guard members can apply for a FREE national parks pass.
List of federal recreation sites that issue passes) by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173).
About the National Park Service
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.
Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
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