Across the United States, communities are preparing to honor the nation’s fallen military personnel on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026. From the rolling hills of Iowa to the bustling towns of South Carolina and the neighborhoods of Northeast Ohio, Americans will gather for ceremonies, parades, and tributes—each reflecting a deep commitment to remembering those who gave their lives in service to the country.
Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, traces its roots back to May 30, 1868, when the first commemoration honored fallen Civil War soldiers. Over time, the observance expanded to recognize all U.S. military members who died in service, especially after World War I. It wasn’t until 1971, however, that Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday, fixing it on the last Monday of May. This year, as always, the meaning remains the same: to honor sacrifice and reflect on freedom’s cost.
In Iowa, preparations are in full swing. According to the Des Moines Register, the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs will host two ceremonies: one at 8 a.m. at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, and another at 10:30 a.m. at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. Both events are free and open to the public, inviting Iowans to pay their respects together.
Elsewhere in the state, the Ames Patriotic Council is organizing a parade and program starting at 10:15 a.m. at Ames City Hall, with a ceremony at 11 a.m. at Ames Municipal Cemetery. Retired U.S. Army Col. Reggie Richardson, an Ames resident and Iowa State University graduate, will serve as the keynote speaker. Cedar Rapids will see its own gathering at the Veterans Memorial Building at 10:30 a.m., featuring an opening prayer, live music, and guest speakers, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette.
The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum will open its doors as early as 5 a.m. at Camp Dodge in Johnston, offering a military-style breakfast, live entertainment, and even a blood drive—an event that runs until noon. Meanwhile, the Marine Corps League’s Larry Nehring Detachment will hold their annual commemoration at 10 a.m. on the south side of the Iowa State Capitol, with Vietnam Army veteran Roger Blanchfield delivering the keynote address.
Communities across Iowa will also participate in parades and ceremonies. Waterloo’s event begins at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Hall and Soldiers/Sailors Park, while Dubuque’s parade starts at noon on Greyhound Park Drive, followed by a ceremony at Veterans Memorial Plaza. In Fort Dodge, the annual ceremony kicks off at 10 a.m. at Terry Moehnke Veterans Memorial Park with music from the Karl King Municipal Band. Bettendorf's Memorial Day Ceremony, featuring U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Col. William Joe Parker as speakers, will be held at 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park. And in Sioux City, Fleet Farm will host a live bugler at 3 p.m. for Taps Across America, a nationwide tribute to the fallen.
One particularly poignant tribute is The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which will be on display at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs from May 22 through May 25. Open 24 hours a day, the exhibit offers a solemn space for reflection and remembrance.
In the Upstate region of South Carolina and western North Carolina, Memorial Day will also be marked by a series of heartfelt events, as reported by FOX Carolina. Greenville County’s Revolutionary War Patriots Dedication will begin at 10 a.m., where historian Durant Ashmore will speak and a wreath ceremony will take place, adding new names to the Greenville County Veteran Monument. Simpsonville and Mauldin will each host ceremonies at 11 a.m., featuring flag displays and tributes to fallen heroes.
Anderson County’s Honea Path Annual Memorial Day Ceremony starts at 10 a.m. at the Memorial Monument, giving the local community a chance to honor those who gave their lives. In Spartanburg County, the American Legion Post 28 will hold its annual ceremony at noon at Veterans’ Pointe Memorial Park in Duncan, including the Presentation of Colors, POW/MIA Flags, and recognition of Gold Star Families and Blue Star Mothers—families who have lost a loved one or have a member serving in the military, respectively.
Laurens County will open its Hall of Heroes Memorial Day event with a car show at 9:30 a.m., followed by the laying of wreaths at 11:30 a.m. Attorney General Alan Wilson is slated to speak, adding a note of gravity to the proceedings. In Buncombe County, the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain will host a live ceremony at 10 a.m. featuring veteran speakers and Iraq and Afghanistan combat veteran Emiliano Enea as keynote speaker. For those unable to attend in person, a recording will be available on YouTube at 3 p.m.
As the day winds down, Hemingway’s Cuba Asheville will ring in the season with its third annual Welcome to Summer Party from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.—a reminder that Memorial Day, while rooted in solemn remembrance, also marks the unofficial start of summer for many Americans.
Meanwhile, in Northeast Ohio, communities will come together in a tapestry of parades and ceremonies, as detailed by WKYC. Avon Lake’s parade will start at 10 a.m. at the high school and end at Veterans Memorial Park. Bay Village will begin its parade at 8:45 a.m. with ceremonies at local cemeteries and the Cahoon Park Gazebo. Bedford, Berea, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, and Brooklyn will all host their own parades, each culminating in ceremonies at parks, cemeteries, or amphitheaters to honor the fallen.
Cleveland itself will hold a Memorial Day program at 10:30 a.m. at the James A. Garfield Memorial at Lakeview Cemetery, while Cleveland Heights will honor veterans at the Cleveland Heights Veterans Memorial in Cumberland Park at the same time. Euclid, Fairview Park, Garfield Heights, Highland Heights, Independence, Lakewood, Mayfield Heights, Mentor, North Olmsted, North Ridgeville, Olmsted Falls, and other towns will each hold their own parades and ceremonies, reflecting the region’s deep respect for those who served.
Some events stretch across the weekend, like the Mayfield Village ceremony on Sunday, May 24, and the Olmsted Township observance on Saturday, May 23. Each town, whether large or small, finds its own way to say thank you—through music, wreaths, prayers, and the simple act of gathering together.
As Americans from Iowa to South Carolina to Ohio gather this Memorial Day, the message is clear: the sacrifices of military personnel will not be forgotten. Through parades, ceremonies, and moments of reflection, communities honor the legacy of those who gave everything for their country, ensuring their memories endure for generations to come.