The Department of Veterans Affairs will host ceremonies at more than 120 VA national cemeteries this weekend in honor of Memorial Day.
All VA national cemeteries will be open, and events at them are free of charge and open to the public. The cemeteries will feature wreath-laying ceremonies, commemorative speeches, and other patriotic events to honor those who lost their lives in service of the country.
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“This Memorial Day weekend, we invite Americans to join us at a VA national cemetery to honor those who died in defense of our nation,” said VA Undersecretary for Memorial Affairs Sam Brown. “Together, we will ensure the legacies of these brave heroes live on for generations.”
Arlington National Cemetery is hosting events throughout the weekend for the 158th National Memorial Day Observance.
This year’s holiday comes after 14 U.S. service members lost their lives during the U.S. war in Iran. Six service members were killed in an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait, another was killed in a similar attack in Saudi Arabia, six others were killed in a refueling accident that was not the result of hostile fire, and another died from a medical emergency.
“I would also like to express my deep gratitude for the 39 members of the joint force who’ve passed in operations, combat, and training during my time as the chairman, and specifically highlight the 14 who’ve passed in Operation Epic Fury,” Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a congressional hearing earlier this month. “The secretary and I are deeply grateful for each of them and their families, and their names will never be forgotten.”
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Two other service members died earlier this month during a joint training exercise in Morocco called African Lion 2026. The two soldiers were last seen near ocean cliffs in the vicinity of the Cap Draa Training Area before their deaths.
In 2026, 280 active duty service members have died, according to the department’s Defense Casualty Analysis System. Of those, seven were categorized as resulting from hostile action by Iran. Fifty-six service members died in accidents, 109 deaths are pending categorization, and 67 died of self-inflicted injuries. Four service members’ deaths are undetermined, 33 were related to illnesses, and four were the victims of homicides.
