Memorial Day is an opportunity to remember all those who died while serving the United States of America in all wars.
An easy reference for all Memorial Day ceremonies at National Cemeteries throughout the United States is available HERE. This listing is in alphabetic order by state. Note that there is not a VA national cemetery in every state.
ONLINE MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBRANCE
If you do not have time this weekend to visit a national cemetery or personally thank a military veteran for his or her sacrifice after more than 10 years of war, there is another way to pay tribute to the fallen. Go online and view the photographs of some of those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The 100 faces in 100 hours is a project of CNN.com and features photos and bios of 100 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines killed during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
TAMPA BAY AREA MEMORIAL CEREMONIES
BAY PINES CEREMONY – May 27 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bay Pines National Cemetery a ceremony honoring the fallen is set including musical performances, a firing salute, and taps performance. A special performance and flag ceremony will be conducted by the Timber Creek High School Air Force Corps Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). The 32,000 grave sites will be adorned with flags. This observance is the largest in the bay area drawing about 3,000 participants. Parking is available nearby. with shuttles to transport guests from the parking lots to the National Cemetery. The venue is handicapped accessible. A sign language interpreter will be available for the hearing impaired.
SARASOTA PARADE - May 27 starting at 10 a.m. The procession begins at Main Street and Osprey Avenue and will continue Sarasota’s longstanding history of honoring military personnel. At the conclusion of the parade, a ceremony at 11 a.m. will be held at Chaplain J.D. Hamel Park at Main Street and Gulfstream Avenue. The public is encouraged to attend. The theme is “Never Forget”. The keynote speaker will be John Rosentrater, who has served as Director of the Sarasota National Cemetery since May 2012. The event is sponsored by the City of Sarasota in conjunction with the Sarasota Patriotic Observance Committee. Entertainment will include the national anthem by violinist Gracie Cespedes, a sophomore at Sarasota Military Academy, and Erin Smith, a recent graduate of Sarasota Military Academy, will sing ‘God Bless America’.
OTHER FLORIDA CEREMONIES
Barrancas National Cemetery
Naval Air Station
80 Hovey Road
Pensacola, FL 32508-1099
(850) 453-4108 or 453-4846
Ceremony: May 27 at 9:00a.m.
Florida National Cemetery
6502 SW 102nd Avenue
Bushnell, FL 33513
(352) 793-7740 or 1074
Ceremony: May 27 11:00 a.m.
Jacksonville National Cemetery
4083 Lannie Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
(904) 766-5222
Ceremony: May 27 at 2:00 p.m.
South Florida National Cemetery
6501 South State Road 7
Lake Worth, FL 33467
(561) 649-6489
Ceremony: May 27 at 10:00 a.m.
St. Augustine National Cemetery
104 Marine Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
For information please contact: Florida National Cemetery (352) 793-7740
Ceremony: May 27 at 10:00 a.m.
