Memorial Day Events and Observances
Memorial Day is the one day set aside for the specific purpose of honoring those that have given their lives in defense of our great nation. It is a day to remember their sacrifice and their courage to be willing to give it. We remember our loved ones. They are our friends, our family, and our fellow service members. The calendar says we set aside one special day…, but our hearts and minds know we remember them always. - WDVA Director, David Puente Jr.
Statewide Memorial Day events and observances information.
- Memorial Day Ceremony in Capitol Rotunda (Olympia) - May 26 - 10:30 a.m. - 416 Sid Snyder, State Capitol Building, Olympia, WA - communications@dva.wa.gov
- State Veterans Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony | WDVA - May 26 - 11 a.m. - 21702 West Espanola Rd., Medical Lake, WA - cemetery@dva.wa.gov
- Olympia Thunder Run - May 26 - 11:30 a.m. - Two start locations (check link for flyer and locations) - Howie - 785-477-2778
- 12:20pm Vietnam Vets Legacy Vets Motorcycle Club at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial: The Vietnam Vets Legacy Vets Motorcycle Club is also holding an event at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Motorcycles will arrive around noon and the ceremony begins at 12:20. (David is the speaker at this event!)
- American Vietnamese War Memorial Committee - May 26 - 12:30 pm - Memorial Day Program at the Vietnam War Memorial in Auburn's Les Gove Park, Auburn, WA
- Memorial Veterans Council- May 26 - 10:30 a.m - American Lake VA (Picnic Point) 9222 Veterans Drive Southwest, Lakewood - council@veteranrites.org
- Lynwood Veterans Park - May 26 - 11 a.m. - Veterans Park, 44th Avenue West and Veterans Way, Lynnwood, 98036 - events@lynnwoodwa.gov
- 35th Annual Memorial Day - May 26 - 10:30 a.m. - 409 Filbert RD #0270, Lynnwood, 98036 - brianne.colton@dignitymemorial.com
- Evergreen Washelli May 26 - 10 am Flag Placement - 11 a.m. Memorial Day Service- Veterans Memorial Cemetery - 11111 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133
- Pioneer Park Pavilion - VFW Post 2224 - 25 May - 2 p.m. - 330 S Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98371 - info@pnwvets.com
- Garden of Remembrance - May 26 - 10 a.m. - Outdoor Garden at Benaroya Hall, 200 University Street, Seattle, WA - facilities@benaroyahall.org
- Milton Community Park - Milton VFW Post 11401 - May 26 - 1 p.m. - Milton Community Park (Triangle Park) East End - 1500 15th Avenue, Milton, WA
- McCleary VFW Cemetery - May 26 - 10 a.m. - McCleary Cemetery Flagpole - 108 N 10th St, McCleary, WA
- Pierce County Veterans Advisory Council - Mountain View Funeral Home and Memorial Park - May 26 - 2 p.m. - 4100 Steilacoom Blvd., Lakewood, WA
- The Unforgotten, Run to Tahoma Celebration of Life Ceremony 2025 - May 24 - 10 a.m. - Kitsap County Admin Building - 614 Division Street, Port Orchard WA - RBecker@kitsap.gov
- Memorial Day Event: Remembrance of LGBTQIA+ Veterans - May 26 - 12 p.m. - Peer Seattle - 1520 Bellevue Ave STE 100 - Seattle, WA 98101 - baughrobert113@gmail.com
- Fir Lane Memorial Park - May 25 - 1 p.m. - 924 East 176th Street, Spanaway, WA 98387
National Recognized Memorial Day Events
- Vancouver Barracks National Cemetery - May 26, 2025, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PDT - 1455 E 4th Plain Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98663
- Fort Worden Post Cemetery - May 26, 2025 - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PDT - 1300-1398 W St, Port Townsend, WA 98368
- Fort Lawton Post Cemetery - May 26, 2025, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PDT - Texas Way, Seattle, WA 98199
- Tahoma National Cemetery - May 26, 2025, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PDT - 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA 98042
9:30am Capitol Campus Memorials Walk (starts at the WWII Memorial): The Northwest Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America will again be sponsoring wreaths for each of the War Memorials on the Capitol Campus. Our thanks goes to NWPVA for coordinating this beautiful display. This year Joy Cochran, Kevin Ferguson and Neal Gardenhire will represent NWPVA and will place each wreath. If you are in the Olympia area and would like to join our Memorial Day Wreath Walk, we will begin at 9:30am at the WWII Memorial. The WWII Memorial is located near the beginning of the North Diagonal parking area. Parking should be wide open at this time. After we stop at the WWII Memorial, we will walk to the WWI Memorial, then over to the Vietnam Memorial, and we will end at the Korean War Memorial which is across Capital Way (the pedestrian bridge is currently closed so we will use the crosswalk near Tivoli Fountain). https://www.des.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/campus-map.pdf
Click the link below for a PDF copy of the 2025 Memorial Day Proclamation.
2025 Memorial Day Proclamation - Memorial Day Proclamation | WDVA
