Virginia Beach Hosts Annual Memorial Day Ceremony

Virginia Beach will honor and pay tribute to all members of the U.S. armed forces during a formal ceremony for Memorial Day, noon-1 p.m., Monday, May 26, at the Tidewater Veterans Memorial, across from the Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th St. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place inside the Convention Center.

Hosted by Virginia Beach Mayor Robert M. “Bobby” Dyer and the Mayor’s Committee for Veterans, the ceremony honors those who "who gave their all," and features live music, reading of honored veteran names and remarks from distinguished guests. It is free and open to the public. 

The event will be livestreamed on the City’s website at VirginiaBeach.com/media and on the City's Facebook page.

Military commands and organizations are invited to bring wreaths on behalf of their organizations. Attendees will receive small U.S. flags when arriving at the ceremony. Larger flags are available for those who want to place them by the memorial.  

The ceremony will feature the Virginia Beach Police Department’s Honor Guard Unit - Rifle Team and Color Guard and music by the U.S. Air Force Heritage Winds and Tony Zontini. Rear Adm. Julie M. Treanor, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, will deliver the keynote address. Other participants include Mayor Bobby Dyer; Mike Gooding, retired senior military reporter with WVEC-TV; and David Yemington, chaplain of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 969; Salem High School JROTC; and members of the Mayor’s Committee for Veterans.  

Each year, the Tidewater Veterans Memorial is the site of a formal ceremony on Memorial Day, as well as the culmination of the Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony, which traditionally is designated as a regional event sanctioned by the Veterans Day National Committee.  

Mayor's Committee for Veterans
Volunteers are needed to help ensure these revered traditions continue. The Virginia Beach Mayor’s Committee for Veterans is tasked with planning and producing the Memorial Day Ceremony. In addition, committee members manage the memorial paver program and work with the Hampton Roads Council of Veterans Organizations to plan and present the Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony. 

“It is very gratifying to see the faces of appreciative people after the ceremony and know that you helped to make it happen,” said Virgil Hart, chairman of the committee.  

To learn more about the committee, email Virgil Hart at vhart@vbgov.com. 

To order a memorial paver, visit VirginiaBeach.gov/MCV.