A man and a child place flowers at the Unknown Soldier on Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Washington during a Flowers of Remembrance ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Flowers of Remembrance Day pays homage to the first official, national Decoration Day, now known as Memorial Day. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
ARLINGTON, Va. — On a cool and sunny Sunday, hundreds gathered at Arlington National Cemetery for the Flowers of Remembrance ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The event, now in its fourth year, invites members of the public to place a single flower, provided by ANC, at the base of the tomb. It offers a rare opportunity to approach the iconic memorial up close and to pause in personal reflection on the themes of service, sacrifice and national memory.
A member of the Honor Guard marches away from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Sunday, May 25, 2025, during the Flowers of Remembrance ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
A member of the Honor Guard patrols the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Sunday, May 25, 2025, during the Flowers of Remembrance ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
A member of the Honor Guard marches away from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Sunday, May 25, 2025, during the Flowers of Remembrance ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Members of the public lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Sunday, May 25, 2025, during the Flowers of Remembrance ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
The public watches a Honor Guard member patrol the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Sunday, May 25, 2025, during the Flowers of Remembrance ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Soldiers clear flowers from in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Sunday, May 25, 2025, during the Flowers of Remembrance ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Soldiers clear flowers from in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Sunday, May 25, 2025, during the Flowers of Remembrance ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Participants included veterans, families and schoolchildren, many pausing for a moment of silence before stepping away. Some saluted while others bowed their heads. Soldiers stood by to clear flowers as they accumulated, gently moving them to the sides to make room for more tributes throughout the day.
The ceremony honors the legacy of Decoration Day, the 19th-century tradition that evolved into Memorial Day. It remains one of the few moments each year when the public is allowed such intimate access to the Tomb.
A veteran salutes the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Sunday, May 25, 2025, during the Flowers of Remembrance ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
