Baltimore County Gears Up For Memorial Day Tributes: A Variety Of Events To Honor And Remember The Armed Forces

BALTIMORE COUNTY - Baltimore County and the broader Mid-Atlantic region have several Memorial Day events lined up to pay tribute to our armed forces.

Initially known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was first introduced in 1868 by Gen. John A. Logan to commemorate Northern lives lost in the Civil War. The tradition evolved over time, and by 1971, Memorial Day became a federal holiday.

Waterloo, New York, is recognized as the birthplace of Memorial Day, with the first observance occurring on May 5, 1866. During this day, businesses closed, and residents adorned the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and flags.

Previously, the holiday only honored Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. However, after the casualties of World War I, the observance expanded to remember all military personnel who lost their lives in service.

Each year, a national moment of silence is observed at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. Americans nationwide are invited to cease activity for one minute to remember military personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Memorial Day Service for Fallen Soldiers with North Point #4 Odd Fellows: The International Order of Odd Fellows North Point Lodge No. 4 will conduct its yearly Memorial Day ceremony on Monday at 10 a.m., focusing on the World War II monument funded by a community-led campaign in the 1940s. Once positioned in front of the now-demolished Fort Howard Elementary School, the memorial was restored and is currently the focal point of a local park, thanks to community advocacy. The ceremony encompasses prayers, an honor guard, and a historical narrative of the monument, underscoring Fort Howard residents' involvement in wars over the years. Although the memorial primarily honors WWII veterans and remembers those who fell during the conflict, the event also acknowledges those who participated in subsequent wars and gave their lives for their country.

56th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony: Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens in Timonium, Baltimore County, will host its 56th annual public Memorial Day ceremony on May 29, at 10 a.m., at the Circle of the Immortals monument. The event will honor Maryland's fallen military personnel, including recently identified WWII and Korean War service members, like Seaman First Class William Brooks, Corporal Donald E. Angle, and Sergeant Roy C. DeLauter. Guest speakers include County Executive John Olszewski, Jr., Colonel Louis P. Hawkins, and Cpl. Wayne L. Miller, a Vietnam veteran, who will deliver the keynote speech and sing the national anthem. The ceremony will acknowledge the Vietnam War 50th Year Commemoration and the Maryland Chapter of Heroes on the Water. The event will feature traditional Memorial Day observances and be live-streamed on the garden's Facebook page.

Annual Garrison Forest Memorial Day Ceremony: Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery, located in Owings Mills, Maryland, is the busiest among Maryland's five veterans cemeteries and the second busiest State Veterans Cemetery nationwide. Since opening in December 1983, over 45,000 veterans and their dependents have chosen it as their final resting place. Garrison Forest will host its annual memorial day celebration at 11:00 a.m. on Monday.

Observance at Arlington National Cemetery: The Memorial Day commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery will occur at the Amphitheater on Monday. All special events and ceremonies are open to the public free of charge. For further information, refer to the Arlington National Cemetery website.

National Memorial Day Concert: The National Memorial Day Concert will be aired on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET and will be available for live streaming on PBS.

National Memorial Day Parade: The American Veterans Center will be hosting the National Memorial Day Parade on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., on Monday, starting at 2 p.m. Following the live telecast of the parade, the program "Our Sacred Honor: An American Salute" will be aired on major networks across the country.

National Museum of the United States Army: From Friday through Monday, the National Museum of the United States Army in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, will host many Memorial Day events, all included in the general admission. These will feature a flag exhibition, a poppy flower craft activity, and interactive history exhibits. Monday's schedule also includes a screening of the documentary "Dear Sirs: A Personal Journey Through World War II 75 Years Later" and a Memorial Day Moment of Silence. Further details can be found here.

"Rolling To Remember" March In Washington, D.C.: a series of events, including a motorcycle demonstration ride by thousands from RFK to the National Mall on Sunday, will be held over the Memorial Day weekend to honor the nation's prisoners of war and those missing-in-action. Organized by AMVETS, the "Rolling To Remember" rally is a call to action to prevent veteran suicides. You can view the 2023 event on Facebook.

Annual Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Observance: On Monday, the Annual Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Observance will be held at The Wall at 5 Henry Bacon Dr. NW, Washington, D.C. From 9:45-10:15 a.m., a wreath-laying ceremony will occur. At noon, an observance will commence on the East Knoll, which will be live-streamed on the organization's Facebook page and at vvmf.org/live.