National Memorial Day Parade

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Web: MusicCelebrations .com

Email: Contact Us

Mail: Music Celebrations International
1440 S. Priest Dr. #102
Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone: 800-395-2036

If you're interested in entering your band in the National Memorial Day Parade, please request an application from Music Celebrations at the contact info above.

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View the 2012 National Memorial Day Parade Lineup

View the 2011 National Memorial Day Parade Lineup

The National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. pays tribute to the pride, sacrifice and service of America's Veterans. Memorial Day, which was originally known as Decoration Day, has a history stretching back to the Civil War and serves as an important reminder of those who died in the service of their country.

The National Memorial Day Parade returned to Washington D.C. in 2004 after a nearly 70-year absence, coinciding with the dedication of the World War II Memorial. This outpouring of appreciation to the veterans of World War II spilled over to veterans of the more recent conflicts as well. The National Memorial Day Parade is now an annual event organized by the American Veterans Center and Music Celebrations International.

The three-hour parade passes alongside the National Mall on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th Streets. The event is a magnificent salute to America's Veterans and in honor of those who died in defense of our country — from the American Revolution to Operation Iraqi Freedom. The parade consists of outstanding marching bands from many of the 50 states and veterans units honoring World War I, War World II, The Korean and Vietnam Conflicts, Desert Storm, and the liberation of Grenada, Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan. Large patriotic floats and helium-filled balloons are also part of procession. More than 10,000 participants take part in the parade annually.

The National Memorial Day Parade is streamed live on YouTube and at www.military.com beginning at 2:00 PM Eastern. The parade is also televised live on local stations nationwide, around the world on the American Forces Network, and locally in Washington, DC on News Channel 8.

• Aberdeen Central High School Golden Eagles Marching Band, Aberdeen, South Dakota
• Atoka High School Pride of Atoka, Atoka, Oklahoma
• Bishop Union High School Band & Color Guard, Bishop, California
• Canyon Springs High School Cougar Canyon Regiment, Moreno Valley, California
• Conestoga High School Marching Band, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
• Everett High School Crimson Tide, Everett, Massachusetts
• Harrison High School Marching Band, Harrison, New York
• Hilton Crimson Cadets Marching Band, Hilton, New York
• Hoboken High School Rockin Redwings Band, Hoboken, New Jersey
• John I Leonard High School Mighty Lancer Band, Greenacres, Florida
• Johnson Central Golden Eagle Marching Band, Paintsville, Kentucky
• Kaiser Catamount Pride Band & Color Guard, Fontana, California
• Liberty Christian Academy Bulldog Marching Band, Lynchburg, Virginia
• Manning High School Golden Pride Marching Band, Manning, South Carolina
• Miller High School Marching Band, Corpus Christi, Texas
• New London High School Marching Band, New London, Connecticut
• Olathe Northwest Raven Pride Marching Band, Olathe, Kansas
• Poteet High School Marching Band, Poteet, Texas
• Springfield High School Mariachi del Sol, Springfield, Oregon
• The Marching Keenan Raider Rubber Band, Columbia, South Carolina
• Tishomingo High School "Pride of Little Dixie", Tishomingo, Oklahoma
• Vernon Township Marching Band, Glenwood, New Jersey
• Westover High School Marching Patriots, Albany, Georgia
• Woodland Hills Marching Band, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A visit to Washington, D.C. gives music groups the opportunity to explore and experience many of the sites that are an important part of American history. Sample itineraries could include:
• Sightseeing tours of the Capitol Hill area, the Supreme Court Building and the Library of Congress.
• A "War Memorial" walking tour of the Lincoln, Korean, World War II, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Vietnam Memorials.
• Visits to historic Mount Vernon, Old Towne Alexandria, Ford's Theater and the Peterson House (where Lincoln died).
• Attending the National Memorial Day Concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, featuring the National Symphony Orchestra broadcast live on PBS.

Monday, May 26, 2025
Monday, May 25, 2026
Monday, May 31, 2027
(Always held on the last Monday of May)

Web: MusicCelebrations.com

Email: Contact Us

Mail: Music Celebrations International
1440 S. Priest Dr. #102
Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone: 800-395-2036

If you're interested in entering your band in the National Memorial Day Parade, please request an application from Music Celebrations at the contact info above.