DISCOVER MEMORIAL DAY TRADITIONS AND ACTIVITIES

WATCH THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT

The PBS program is broadcast at 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT. To be certain of the air time in your area, be sure to check local listings.

The livestream of the broadcast is also available on this website, on the PBS app, and on the PBS YouTube Channel. Video On Demand of the show is available for 2 weeks following the live broadcast.

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DISPLAYING THE FLAG

On Memorial Day, the U.S. flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon. In the morning, the flag should be raised momentarily to the top and then lowered to half-staff. Americans can also honor prisoners of war and those missing in action by flying the POW/MIA flag.

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VISITING GRAVE SITES

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because communities honored their war dead by decorating their graves with flowers. Many Americans make special flower arrangements and deliver them as a family to grave sites of their loved ones and ancestors.

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PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE

In accordance with a congressional resolution passed in 2000, Americans pause wherever they are at 3:00 p.m. local time for a moment of silence to remember and honor the fallen.

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VISITING LOCAL VETERANS’ HOMES AND HOSPITALS

Many living American veterans require long-term medical care or housing assistance, and they can often feel forgotten. The Memorial Day holiday is a great time to let them know that we appreciate their sacrifice and that of their families and their friends lost in battle.

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ATTENDING MEMORIAL DAY PARADES

The Memorial Day parade is a time-honored tradition in cities and towns across America. Neighbors come together to remember with pride those who sacrificed so much for our country.

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EXPERIENCING THE NATION’S MEMORIALS

Memorial Day can also be an opportunity to visit or read about the national memorials in Washington, D.C., as well as local memorials around the country.

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BRUSHING UP ON FAMILY AND AMERICAN HISTORY

Memorial Day is a favorite time for Americans to read their family history, look at old photographs and learn about their ancestors, especially those who died in the service of their nation. It’s also an occasion for reading Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and other historic and patriotic speeches by presidents and leaders of the armed services.

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WEARING MEMORIAL DAY POPPIES

The tradition of wearing red poppies on Memorial Day was inspired by the 1915 poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrea. War worker Moina Michael made a personal pledge to always wear red silk poppies as an emblem of “keeping the faith with all who died,” and began a tradition that was adopted in the United States, England, France, Australia and more than 50 other countries.