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A member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment places flags at the headstones of military personnel buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hosting Memorial Day ceremonies at more than 130 VA national cemeteries to honor those who gave their lives for the nation.
All 156 VA National Cemeteries and 35 soldiers' lots will be open to the public throughout Memorial Day weekend, from May 23 through May 26. The events are expected to draw more than 100,000 attendees and will include wreath-laying ceremonies, commemorative speeches, the playing of the Taps and other tributes honoring fallen veterans.
Visiting VA National cemeteries
For a comprehensive list of official VA National Cemetery Memorial Day events and visiting hours, refer to the National Cemetery Administration's Memorial Day 2025 page. Those interested in volunteering can explore opportunities at VA national cemeteries through the NCA webpage.
“Every day throughout the year, VA plays a vital role in remembering and honoring the brave servicemembers who gave their lives in defense of the freedoms America holds dear,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “This Memorial Day weekend, we invite Americans to visit VA cemeteries and join us in reflecting upon the important legacies of these fallen heroes.”
VA Burial Benefits
Almost all veterans who received an honorable discharge are eligible for a burial benefit, even if they did not serve in combat. Although federal burial grounds are long established, many veterans and military families are unaware of the broad eligibility and benefits available to them. Click here to learn more.
Additions to the Veterans Legacy Memorial
The VA is encouraging Americans to honor fallen service members by leaving tributes on the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM) website, which includes over 10 million pages of information about veterans buried in national, state, territorial and tribal VA cemeteries.
This month, the VA announced 210,000 additional pages for veterans interred in U.S. cemeteries and memorials overseas.
The VLM provides a platform for family and friends to share lasting memories of a veteran by uploading written tributes, photos, biographies, documents and other personal information. Additionally, living veterans approved for pre-need burial in a VA National Cemetery can share their own stories on VLM through the “Your Life, Your Story” feature.
There are 156 national cemeteries and 35 soldiers’ lots and monument sites across 42 states and Puerto Rico. The VA’s Veterans Cemetery Grant Program also funds 122 additional state, territorial and tribal cemeteries.
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