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Memorial Weekend in the Nation’s Capital: Honoring Those Who Served (photos)

By Jeff Malet • May 31, 2022 0 2836

Staff Sergeant Gerald Morgan of Honolulu Hawaii plants an American Flag on a gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday May 26. Photo by Jeff Malet.

“We don’t know them all, but we owe them all.” — anonymous

For most Americans, the Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, conjuring up images of cook-outs and visits to the beach. The last Monday in May serves, most importantly, as a time to honor those who died while fighting in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The holiday originated after the Civil War; at that time it was known as Decoration Day. In 1971, federal law changed the observance of the holiday to the last Monday in May and extended the honor to all soldiers who died in American wars.

In our nation’s capital, the holiday weekend unofficially began on the proceeding Thursday with the ceremonial planting of more than 250,000 flags by soldiers from the U.S. Army Old Guard on every gravesite, columbarium and niche wall at Arlington National Cemetery. The 3d U.S. Infantry, traditionally known as “The Old Guard,” is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, serving the nation since 1784.

The climax to the holiday weekend is the National Memorial Day Parade on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. — a flag-waving event with patriotic marches and floats. The parade is sponsored by the World War II Veterans Committee and was the first since 2019 due to the pandemic.

View a slideshow of Jeff Malet’s photos from Memorial Day weekend in D.C. by clicking on the photo icons below.

: As a part of a decades-long tradition, soldiers from the U.S. Army Old Guard placed a U.S. flag at every gravesite, columbarium and niche wall ahead of Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Funeral procession at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Staff Sergeant Tim Chambers, better known as “The Saluting Marine”, is the uniformed veteran who stands and salutes in the middle of the motorcycle traffic during the Rolling Thunder demonstrations in Washington D.C., on the Sunday before Memorial Day. He has done so since 2001, in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, posing with the Music Ciry Young Maraines of Nashville Tenn. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Everet tHigh School, Everett Mass. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Washington High School Patriots Marching Band (Charles Town, W.V.) Photo by Jeff Malet.

: “Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive” honoring and preserving the legacy of the World War II Generation. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Staff Sergeant Gerald Morgan of Honolulu Hawaii plants an American Flag on a gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday May 26. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Thousands of Rolling to Remember motorcycle riders from across the Nation paraded past the Capitol on Sunday. Photo by Jeff Malet..

: Antique cars roll in the National Memorial Day Parade in D.C. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. watches the parade.. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova and Major General Borys Kremenetskyi Ukraine Defense Attache watch parade. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Hobbton High School “Marching Wildcats” (North Carolina) Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Private Stephen Dicks plants an American Flag on a gravesite. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: The current Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army Major General Thomas L. Solhjem. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Members of the The Office of the Chief of Chaplains headquartered at the Pentagon assemble on ‘Chaplain Hill’ in Arlington National Cemetery. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: As a part of a decades-long tradition, soldiers from the U.S. Army Old Guard placed a U.S. flag at every gravesite, columbarium and niche wall ahead of Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Medal of Honor Winner John W. Boutwell. During the Civil War he brought off from the picket line, under heavy fire, a comrade who had been shot through both legs. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: As a part of a decades-long tradition, soldiers from the U.S. Army Old Guard placed a U.S. flag at every gravesite, columbarium and niche wall ahead of Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Undergoing inspection during the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Funeral procession at Arlington National Cemetery. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Training Command Sergeant Major Garett G. Kirkby, Marine Sgt. Major Rhonda Kirkby and Major Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte.. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Thousands of Rolling to Remember motorcycle riders from across the Nation paraded past the Capitol. on Sunday. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Marine Lt. Col. Anthony Ansley and daughter Arabella enjoy the parade.. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Thousands of Rolling to Remember motorcycle riders from across the Nation paraded past the Capitol on Sunday Photo by Jeff Malet..

: Thousands of Rolling to Remember motorcycle riders from across the Nation paraded past the Capitol on Sunday. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Thousands of Rolling to Remember motorcycle riders from across the Nation paraded past the Capitol on Sunday. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: The US Navy Ceremonial Guard Drill Team practices on Navy Memorial Plaza on Friday. Performances at the same location on select Tuesdays at 7:30 pm this Summer. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: United States Navy Memorial Memorial Day Wreath Laying. Photo by Jeff Malet courtesy of the US Navy Memorial.

: Black Knight Marching Band, Franklin Pa. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Gary Sinise of the Gary Sinise Foundation. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Celebrity chef Robert Irvine rides in the parade. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Fifes & Drums of York Town (Va.) Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Andrew Jackson, War of 1812 Reenactor (US Constitution, Baltimore MD) Photo by Jeff Malet.

: East Central High School, Indiana “Marching Trojans” Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Abe Lincoln President Lincoln (Don Mullen) rides in the parade.. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Medal of Honor recipient Melvin Morris rides on the Medal of Honor Museum (Arlington Texas) float with Chris Cassidy, retired U.S. Navy SEAL and former Chief Astronaut for NASA.. Photo by Jeff Malet.