Dear Friend,

It’s hard to believe Memorial Day Weekend is already here. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the holiday will look a little different, but there are still ways you can honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice:

Tune into the National Memorial Day Concert: Every year, PBS pays tribute to fallen heroes with a “National Memorial Day Concert.” Tune into this year’s event at 8:00 PM on Sunday, May 24th. More information can be found here.

Honor a fallen soldier: Even though traditional Memorial Day events are limited this year, we can still honor those who have given their life in the name of protecting our freedom. Make a special social media post or place flowers at the grave of a local fallen soldier—just don’t forget to practice social distancing and safety guidelines when doing so.

Visit the online “Veterans Legacy Memorial:” The Veterans Legacy Memorial is an online memorial space managed by the National Cemetery Administration. Click here to search the digital memorial page, which is dedicated to the memory of 3.7 million veterans who are interred in VA national cemeteries.

Watch a local Memorial Day ceremony from the comfort of your home: A number of local events paying tribute to fallen soldiers will be live-streamed or recorded and posted online afterwards. This includes a Fort Drum Memorial Day ceremony that will be recorded and shared on the 10th Mountain Division Facebook page.

This weekend, as you continue to take steps to keep you and your loved ones safe, I hope you will pause to remember the valor, dedication and courage of those who have given their lives to protect our freedom.

Sincerely,

Senator Patty Ritchie