Memorial Day activities in Washington, D.C.

Memorial Day activities in Washington, D.C.

National Vice Commander Jake Jacobs will represent The American Legion at two major Memorial Day events in Washington, D.C. on May 25. He will attend the National Memorial Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery and place a wreath in the afternoon at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Jacobs served in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1974 and is a member of American Legion Post 5 in Torrington, Wyo. He is a former commander of the Legion’s Department of Wyoming.

The Arlington program begins at 10:30 with a musical prelude by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. At 11 a.m., a presidential Armed Forces full honor wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. An observance program will follow at the Memorial Amphitheater.

No tickets are needed to attend these events; the program is free and open to the general public. Free parking is available at the cemetery’s welcome center, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. A free shuttle service will provide transportation to the Amphitheater, starting at 8 a.m.

At the National Mall, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial ceremony - free and open to the public - begins at 1 p.m. Thousands of veterans and their families congregate at “The Wall” to remember and honor those servicemembers who sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War and veterans who served in that war.

Nearly a dozen Medal of Honor recipients are expected to attend and the U.S. Postal Service will dedicate the 2015 Medal of Honor: Vietnam Forever® stamps as part of the ceremony.

The wreath-laying is also open to the public; Vice Commander Jacobs will place a wreath at The Wall for the Legion.

Other Memorial Day Weekend events in the nation’s capital include:

Saturday, May 23:

11 a.m.: Rolling Thunder visits the Navy Memorial in downtown D.C. and holds a wreath-laying ceremony, featuring special guests and live performances.

11 a.m.: Memorial Day Commemoration in Sharpsburg, Md. One of the oldest Memorial Day traditions in the United States will begin with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Sharpsburg Town Hall at 11 a.m., followed by the Annual Memorial Day Parade at 1:30 p.m.

May 23-25: The city of Rockville's Memorial Day event is a three-day street festival with live music, children's entertainment, a parade and more.

Sunday, May 24:

Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally: Departs from the Pentagon at noon. Speaker program and musical tribute starts at 1:30 p.m. at the Reflecting Pool across from the Lincoln Memorial. Thousands of motorcycles ride through Washington in an annual demonstration, seeking to improve veterans benefits and resolve POW/MIA issues.

8 p.m.: National Memorial Day Concert on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Gates open at 5 p.m. The National Symphony Orchestra will perform, with guest appearances by actors Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna.

8 p.m.: Concert at Wolf Trap National Park. The park for performing arts kicks off the summer season with a free performance by the U.S. Marine Band, followed by fireworks. The Filene Center gates open at 6:30 p.m. Arrive early because the park closes once capacity is reached.

Monday, May 25:

9 a.m.: The National Park Service and the Friends of the National World War II Memorial will sponsor a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of our veterans. Guest speakers are scheduled. The theme for the commemoration is "Honoring our Fallen Warriors." Many surviving WWII veterans will be in attendance.

10 a.m.: Fleet Reserve Association wreath-laying ceremony at the Navy Memorial in downtown Washington. Noon: U.S. Navy Band Concert. 1 p.m.: Naval District Washington wreath-laying ceremony.

1-7 p.m.: Alexandria Memorial Day Jazz Festival, Waterfront Park at 1 Prince Street, Alexandria, Va. The annual event features big band, swing, and contemporary jazz music. Picnics are allowed; food and beverages will also be for sale. In case of inclement weather, the festival will be at the Lee Center's Kauffman Auditorium, 1108 Jefferson St. Admission is free.

2 p.m.: The National Memorial Day Parade on Constitution Ave., between 7th and 17th streets. The parade includes floats, high school marching bands, veterans, service members, local and national celebrities, service organizations and clubs.

4 p.m.: The Women in Military Service for America Memorial, located at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, will hold a ceremony that includes formal military honors, a keynote address, wreath-laying ceremonies and the scattering of rose petals in tribute to departed comrades. Members of the public are invited to join in the personal tribute segment of the program.