Regional events paying tribute to American soldiers who have given their lives for the United States.
Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminary
Saturday, May 28, 8 – 11 p.m.
Fredericksburg National Cemetery, Sunken Road and Lafayette Boulevard.
The luminaria pays tribute to American soldiers who have given their lives for this country. To honor those soldiers, members of the Mattaponi and Aquia Districts of the Boy Scouts of America and the Commonwealth Council Girl Scouts of the USA will light 15,300 candles in the cemetery – one for each soldier buried there. In addition, a bugler will play “Taps” every 30 minutes throughout the evening. Park staff posted throughout the cemetery will tell the stories of soldiers who died in that battle.
Due to limited parking, a free shuttle service will operate from the University of Mary Washington parking lot on the corner of William St. and Sunken Rd. Handicapped parking will be available in the parking lot behind the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center, with another shuttle operating between that point and the cemetery.
Free. Rain date is Sunday, May 29. No pets, please.
Band of America’s Few Memorial Day Weekend Concerts
Sunday, May 29
National Museum of the Marine Corps, 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Triangle
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. – The Band of America’s Few, comprised of former Marine Corps band members, will perform outdoors in honor of Memorial Day.
12 – 1 p.m. – An ensemble from the Band of America’s Few will perform in the Museum’s Leatherneck Gallery.
Quantico National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony
Monday, May 30, 10:30 a.m.
Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Rd., (Route 619), Triangle
Culpeper National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony
Monday, May 30, 11 a.m.
Culpeper National Cemetery, 305 U.S. Ave., Culpeper
Re‐created 23rd United States Colored Troops Memorial Day Procession
Monday, May 30, procession begins at 11:15 a.m.
For the fifth consecutive year, The re‐created 23rd United States Colored Troops will lead a Memorial Day procession from Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site), 801 Sophia St., Fredericksburg, to the Fredericksburg National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony. This procession recalls a long‐ago tradition of Fredericksburg citizens‐‐ many of them formerly enslaved ‐‐ gathering at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) and processing to the National Cemetery on Memorial Day.
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park Memorial Day Ceremony
Monday, May 30, 12 Noon (lasts about 35 minutes)
Fredericksburg National Cemetery, Sunken Road and Lafayette Boulevard.
This year’s Memorial Day observance comes 150 years to the week after the first burials in the National Cemetery took place in 1866. This year’s keynote speaker is Rev. Hashmel Turner. Turner is a Vietnam veteran who took his basic training at Fort Benning and advance Infantry Training at Fort Polk, La. He served eight years on Fredericksburg City Council, and currently serves as President of the Fredericksburg Branch of the NAACP. He is past Vice President of the 23rd Regiment United States Colored Troops. In addition to his status as co-founder of Divine One Ministries, Rev. Turner also serves as Chaplain of the Mayfield Civic Association and American Legion Post 55.
Fredericksburg Area Veterans Council Memorial Day Ceremony
Monday, May 30, 2:45 p.m.
Our Fallen Heroes Memorial in Fredericksburg Area War Memorial Park, George, Barton and Liberty Streets
Flag raising ceremony, wreath presentation, and speakers, including U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman.
Rappahannock POPS Orchestra Annual Memorial Day Concert
Monday, May 30, 6 p.m.
Mary Washington Hospital campus, in front of the Ambulatory Surgery Center at 1201 Sam Perry Blvd.
Free.
White House Band Memorial Day Concert
Monday, May 30, 7 p.m.
State Theatre, 305 S. Main St., Historic Downtown Culpeper, Va. 22701
The White House Band is a group of musicians who at some point in their careers played at The White House with our nation’s Washington-based military bands. Their Memorial Day Concert will honor our fallen soldiers.
Cost: $20 Adult, $10 Child
