Communities across North Texas will mark Memorial Day weekend with ceremonies, tributes, and family events honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
Originally known as Decoration Day, the holiday began after the Civil War to honor fallen soldiers and has since evolved into a national day of remembrance for all who died in military service. However people choose to spend the day, Memorial Day ultimately serves as a time to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
One of the most visible tributes this weekend will take place at the Veterans Land Board’s four Texas State Veterans Cemeteries, where headstones of servicemembers killed or missing in action will be illuminated from Friday, May 22, through Monday, May 25.
Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham announced the cemeteries in Killeen, Abilene, Mission, and Corpus Christi will remain open 24 hours a day during the holiday weekend for nighttime viewing.
“This tribute reflects the deep respect the Texas General Land Office (GLO) and the VLB holds for the courageous men and women who gave everything for our nation,” Buckingham said in a news release. “Memorial Day weekend carries profound meaning for the families and communities whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Closer to home, North Texans can participate in the annual Memorial Flag Placement at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery on Sunday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The American Red Cross-Service sponsors the event for the Armed Forces North Texas Region.
In McKinney, the annual Memorial Day Celebration honoring Collin County veterans and military personnel will be held on Monday at 10 a.m. at Corporal RD Foster Veterans Memorial Park.
The McKinney Armed Services Board presents the event in conjunction with the City of McKinney Parks & Recreation Department. Organizers said the long-running ceremony recognizes the service and sacrifices of military personnel and veterans from Collin County.
City officials noted the event has traditionally been held on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, but was moved this year to Memorial Day itself. The ceremony will take place rain or shine.
In Arlington, the National Medal of Honor Museum will host a four-day Memorial Day observance from Friday, May 22, through Monday, May 25, centered on remembrance and reflection.
Among the featured activities is the “Field of Flags,” an outdoor display featuring more than 600 flags representing Medal of Honor recipients killed in action. Visitors can also dedicate a flag in honor of or in remembrance of a loved one, with the display overlooking Mark Holtz Lake near a quiet amphitheater designed for reflection.
Inside the museum, guests can visit the Fallen Comrades Table tribute and explore immersive exhibit galleries featuring multimedia experiences and artifacts connected to Medal of Honor recipients.
Additional offerings include architecture tours highlighting the symbolism behind the museum’s design and the “Dustoff” virtual reality experience simulating a Vietnam-era medical evacuation mission.
The museum’s 1861 Café will feature special Memorial Day menu offerings throughout the weekend. The museum will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission for active-duty military members and promotional admission offers for veterans.
Carry the Load, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting Americans to the sacrifices made by the military, veterans, and first responders, will hold several events over the weekend throughout North Texas, including in Allen, Waxahachie, Fort Worth, Rockwall, Flower Mound, and Dallas.
The Dallas event will be held on Sunday and Monday at Reverchon Park and will include a memorial march, a silent midnight walk, a storyboard procession, a kids’ zone, food trucks, a nonprofit partner village, and opening and closing ceremonies. Details on the times and locations for each Carry the Load event in the metroplex can be found on the organization’s website.
The holiday weekend will conclude Monday evening in Dallas with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s annual Memorial Day concert at Flag Pole Hill.
The free outdoor concert begins at 8:15 p.m., with fireworks scheduled for 9:15 p.m. Pre-show entertainment by Rob Holbert begins at 6:30 p.m.
The program, led by conductor Shira Samuels-Shragg and featuring baritone Bradley Ritschel, includes patriotic selections such as “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful,” “Taps,” “The Stars & Stripes Forever March,” and an Armed Forces Salute.
The concert will also feature works by Aaron Copland, John Williams, and Florence Price. In the event of rain, the performance will be moved to the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, though fireworks will be canceled.
