As military cemeteries, museums, and national parks shutter amid the ongoing pandemic, the National Museum of the Pacific War, alongside the Admiral Nimitz Foundation, and the Texas Historical Commission invite all for a virtual Memorial Day program.
“While safety precautions for coronavirus prevent us from holding our usual, well-attended onsite program,” the museum’s press release stated, “we will not miss the opportunity to honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”
Founded in Fredericksburg, Texas, in 1967—the birthplace of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz—the National Museum of the Pacific War is the only institution in the United States exclusively devoted to the Pacific Theater in World War II.
The programming, free to the public, will air at 10 a.m. CST on Monday, May 25. It will feature Michael Hagee, retired USMC general and museum president, followed by “a short keynote by president of Gold Star Mothers of Texas/Oklahoma, Cindy Martin, ‘Taps,’ performed by Bill Smallwood, and a video montage.”
Due to continued social distancing, other broadcasts are following suit.
Join PBS on the eve of Memorial Day as Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna host the National Memorial Day Concert, or Kathie Lee Gifford the following day as she hosts the virtual “Parade of Heroes” featuring interviews with veterans spanning all ages and conflicts.
As Americans #RememberAtHome this year, the “virtual” Memorial Day will honor the military service of all men and women who gave their “last full measure of devotion.”