News Release
NPS Photo
News Release Date: May 21, 2020
Contact: NewsMedia@nps.gov
WASHINGTON - This Memorial Day, we take time to remember and honor those who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military. At national memorials and monuments, as well as our vast open spaces, the National Park Service (NPS) provides numerous opportunities for Americans to explore and learn about our country’s military history and reflect on the sacrifices made by the men and women of the armed forces.
While some parks will host in-person commemorative programs, the NPS will also host a Virtual Memorial Day Tribute saluting America’s fallen soldiers, with participation from 30 parks across 12 states and the District of Columbia. The virtual event is being coordinated by Vicksburg National Military Park and will be available on Facebook May 25. Beginning at 8 a.m. EDT and spanning more than 13 hours, the commemorative event will feature a series of livestreams, demonstrations, and historic talks about the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War and beyond, as well as a video of park rangers from Maryland to Montana reciting the Gettysburg Address.
“The National Park Service has many memorials and monuments dedicated to honoring military service and sacrifice throughout our nation's history,” said NPS Deputy Director, exercising the authority of the Director, David Vela. “Our staff, partners, and volunteers are hard at work for the American people, continuing to provide engaging virtual opportunities and basic in-park services, while we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
This holiday weekend, as parks continue to become more accessible to the public, we ask visitors to recreate responsibly by following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local orders to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Visitors should make a plan by researching park conditions in advance, stay close to home, recreate with people in their household and maintain social distance from others, postpone challenging hikes and activities, and bring home everything they brought with them. These simple steps will help keep you, others, and park resources safe.
At this time, more than 280 of the 419 units of the NPS have outdoor areas available, however some facilities and services may be limited. As operations are changing on a park-by-park basis, we recommend visitors check with individual parks for specific details about their operations, including campgrounds.
Visit NPS.gov for more information about Memorial Day events, military-themed stories of people and places in the National Park System and trip-planning information for military parks.
www.nps.gov
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Last updated: May 21, 2020