Memorial Day 2022: Where To Find Events Around Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, bringing numerous special events to enjoy with the family. The holiday is also a solemn occasion to reflect on those who have died serving in the armed forces.

In Alexandria, a Memorial Day ceremony is planned at the Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans Memorial in front of the Mount Vernon Rec Center. The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 30, honoring Capt. Humbert Roque "Rocky" Versace, an Alexandria resident and posthumous Medal of Honor recipient, 67 other Alexandrians who were killed in action or missing in action during the Vietnam War, and other fallen service members. The ceremony will include reading the names of the 68 Vietnam War fallen service members from Alexandria, patriotic music, reading a tribute to Capt. Versace written by a fellow prisoner of war, a wreath laying by Captain Versace's USMA 1959 classmates, sounding of "Taps"; and singing of "God Bless America."

The Alexandria Jazz Festival, normally a Memorial Day weekend event, has been moved to Friday, June 17 to open the Portside in Old Town Summer Festival on June 17 and 18. The 44th Annual Alexandria Jazz Fest will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Waterfront Park with three performance groups and readings from Alexandria poets.

Below are other events to check out during Memorial Day weekend near Alexandria.

Flags In at Arlington National Cemetery

Thursday, May 26

Flags In is a tradition where the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (the "Old Guard") places American flags at graves of service members buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The flags are placed at 228,000 headstones and 7,000 niche rows in the cemetery's Columbarium Courts and Niche Wall. In addition, the Sentinels (members of the Old Guard) place flags at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and Army chaplains put flags in front of the headstones and four memorials on Chaplains' Hill. Visitors can watch but may not place flags.

Flowers of Remembrance Day at Arlington National Cemetery

Saturday, May 28, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Arlington National Cemetery will host its first Flowers of Remembrance Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Visitors will be able to place flowers at the tomb to honor their sacrifice. Flowers will be provided, or visitors can bring long-stemmed flowers to place at the tomb. Vases, wreaths, or flowers with any packaging or plastic containers are not allowed.
Arlington National Cemetery historians will offer history talks at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the center of the Memorial Amphitheater to share the history of Decoration Day, which Flowers of Remembrance Day honors. An optional walking tour will follow the 10 a.m. talk.

Women’s Memorial's Memorial Day ceremony

Monday, May 30, 3 p.m.

The Women's Memorial will host its 25th annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Military Women's Memorial, Memorial Avenue and Schley Drive in Arlington. The ceremony will include formal military honors, a keynote address, remarks from past and present military women in the six military services, and scattering of rose petals in tribute to fallen service members.

Falls Church Memorial Day Ceremony, Festival and Parade

Monday, May 30

The City of Falls Church has a day full of activities planned for Memorial Day. The Memorial Day Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at City Hall and Community Center grounds with civic, merchant, craft and food vendors, live music and kids entertainment. A fun run will also start at 9 a.m. at Great Falls Street and Little Falls Street. At 11 a.m., a Memorial Day ceremony will be held at Veterans Plaza by the Community Center with keynote speaker Capt. Shaw H. Cohe, SC, U.S. Navy (retired).

At 2 p.m., the parade will begin, running on Park Avenue between West Street and Little Falls Street. The grand marshal is Chet De Long, who was chosen for his service to Mary Riley Styles Public Library.