How will coronavirus impact on Memorial Day 2020 events?
This year's Memorial Day will be held next Monday with events this year greatly hampered by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Memorial Day is a national holiday in the USA and is observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military with this year's Memorial Day on 25 May.
This year's celebrations however will be somewhat muted as the country grapples with the global Covid-19 pandemic which has caused over 95,000 deaths in the US alone.
With the great majority of parades and public events cancelled this year as a precautionary measure, there are still a series of online initiatives to honor service members who lost their lives. We offer some of the best digital events taking place over the weekend:
Parade of Heroes
Monday 22nd at 11 a.m.(ET) on Facebook
Under normal circumstances, many of us would gather on Memorial Day for processions that honor the country’s fallen soldiers and ring in the unofficial beginning of summer. This virtual gathering hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford will feature performances the singer-songwriter Tori Kelly, the Lincoln Way Marching Band and Acapop! KIDS, a group of young a cappella performers. LL Cool J, Rob Lowe and Mario Lopez will also participate.
This Memorial Day, tune-in to our virtual Parade of Heroes, where we honor those who gave their lives for our freedom, & celebrate their service - with special guests & tributes starting at 8am PT. RSVP to our Facebook event: https://t.co/gmQ59S6cXy#RememberAtHome pic.twitter.com/9cDNv2gK1m
— Ancestry (@Ancestry) May 18, 2020
Run a virtual race
If running a race is how you celebrate special occasions (good for you), you can compete in one on your own. Take, for instance, the Virtual Run Challenge, which is hosting a 21-K race over the weekend. The roughly 13-mile race can be completed wherever you like, and is between $27 and $60 to register. Additionally, Active in Washington DC will also host a series of virtual races on Memorial Day. Choose between a 5K, 10K, or Half-Marathon. Registration runs between $35 to $40.
Virtual Commemoration
Write or record a message and post to the Memorial Day 2020 virtual commemoration which will take place online at 1:00 p.m (ET) on Monday, May 25th hosted by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
As we approach #MemorialDay, we pause to honor and remember those who sacrificed all for our country. Read some of the heartfelt messages you sent in to help us "Always Remember" those who gave all. Scroll down the page and read them here: https://t.co/lh2nXChkoL pic.twitter.com/U4MJzOteKB
— Vietnam Vet Memorial (@VVMF) May 22, 2020