Each year, on the final Monday of May, our nation pauses to observe Memorial Day—a solemn occasion dedicated to honoring the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who gave their lives in service to our country. While some may see it as a long weekend or a break from routine, Memorial Day is, at its heart, a deeply personal and collective moment of remembrance. It is a time to reflect, to give thanks, and to recognize the immeasurable sacrifices made for the freedoms we enjoy today.
A Tradition Like No Other
Across the country—and around the world—families, veterans, and communities come together to make sure that those who served are not forgotten. Their tributes are powerful, heartfelt, and enduring. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best Memorial Day tributes in history.
The Flag Sails Onward
Seven miles off the coast of Key West, Florida, the USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg rests at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Once a proud military vessel, the ship was ceremoniously sunk in 2009 to serve as an artificial reef. Five years later, in a quiet but poignant tribute, divers returned to the site on Memorial Day and affixed an American flag to the sunken ship.
Though the Vandenberg no longer sails above the waves, its mission continues below the surface—now a symbol of peace, remembrance, and the unyielding spirit of those who served aboard. Even beneath the ocean, the flag endures, carried by currents and memory alike.
Floating Flowers, Lasting Tribute
In Muskegon, Michigan, the USS Silversides Submarine Museum holds an annual Lost Boat Ceremony—a heartfelt tradition now decades in the making. The museum, which honors one of the most successful submarines of World War II, becomes a gathering place for families, veterans, and supporters.
During the ceremony, loved ones of submarine veterans gently toss colored carnations into the water—each flower a symbol of remembrance for sailors who never returned. The gesture is simple, yet deeply moving. In 2014, it marked the 27th year of the tribute, with submarine wives honoring not only their husbands’ fallen crewmates, but the risks still faced by service members today.
A Song for the Fallen
In Taguig, just south of Manila in the Philippines, the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is home to over 17,000 engraved names—etched into marble walls in honor of Americans who gave their lives in the Pacific during World War II.
On Memorial Day, the echoes of remembrance are carried not only in silence, but in song. During a recent ceremony, a Philippine soldier stepped forward, raised his trumpet, and played a mournful melody that filled the air and reverberated through the rows of white crosses. The music brought the crowd to stillness, a moment suspended in both sound and reverence. One instrument. One voice. A tribute for thousands.
One Flag for Every Soul
In San Antonio, Texas, Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery becomes a sea of stars and stripes each Memorial Day. Over 100,000 graves receive a small American flag—one for every soul who served.
Volunteers of all ages come together to honor the fallen, placing each flag with care. Among them in 2014 was a 12-year-old girl named Mikayla, who placed more than 50 flags in honor of her father—a U.S. Marine then deployed overseas. For Mikayla, every flag was more than a tribute to a stranger. It was a prayer, a promise, and a symbol of hope for her father’s safe return.
Memorial Day: A Moment to Remember
Memorial Day is not just about barbecues or parades—it is a day to be still. To bow our heads. To say the names. It is a time to honor the courageous souls who laid down their lives so that others could live in freedom.
We believe in the enduring power of memory. Let us never forget that behind every name etched in stone is a story worth telling, a life worth remembering, and a sacrifice that must never be taken for granted.