A placard displays a quote from a solider to his mother against a wall of 600,000 poppy flowers at USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor display in Washington on Saturday, May 24, 2025. The 600,000 flowers symbolizes the 600,000 military members lost in service to our country. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — Thousands of visitors and veterans strolled through USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor over Memorial Day weekend. One side of the exhibit shared the history of the poppy flower as a symbol of remembrance, along with overviews of military campaigns from World War I through the Global War on Terror. On the other side stood a striking wall of 600,000 poppy flowers behind plexiglass, interspersed with quotes from veterans’ letters sent home from the front lines.
Visitors to USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor view the display on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Washington. USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor returned to the National Mall for the sixth time. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Marcus Bowers, senior vice commander of the American Legion, pins a poppy flower to his cap on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Washington at USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Pins representing poppy flowers were given out for free at USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor display on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Visitors to USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor view the display on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Washington. The Poppy Wall of Honor focuses on the impact of each life lost and all they gave through their military service. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
One veteran, John Schoon, a former Army staff sergeant with the Third Army, Central Command, became emotional as he stood before the section dedicated to Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the campaign in which he served.
“[The war] still stands with me, because nobody wins the war,” he said. “The hardest part of the war is coming home. You have to deal with everything. You have to deal with the ones you lost that you never forget ... I can at least come here to pay my respects to my brethren and my sisters at Section 60 at Arlington [National Cemetery] and see my buddy’s name on the wall, knowing that I followed in his footsteps and he can’t talk to me ... I have guilt, self-guilt. Why did I make it home?”
John Schoon, a former Army sergeant with the Third Army, Central Command, left, is comforted by USAA employee and Air Force veteran Shelina Frey on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Washington at USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor. Schoon served in Desert Storm. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
John Schoon, a former Army sergeant with the Third Army, Central Command, left, pauses with emotion as USAA employee and Air Force veteran Shelina Frey seeks to comfort him on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Washington at USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor. Schoon served in Desert Storm. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Joe Spruill, of American Legion Post 46, left, and Marcus Bowers, senior vice commander of the D.C. region’s American Legion, visit USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor, on display on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Other visitors reflected on the meaning of remembrance and the sacrifice made by service members who gave their lives to preserve freedom.
“Memorial Day holds a special place in the hearts of Americans as we unite to honor our fallen heroes,” said Juan C. Andrade, President and CEO of USAA. “Let us remember the sacrifices they made, support their loved ones, and cherish the freedoms our nation’s service members have so bravely defended. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II and the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. We must never forget the enduring cost of freedom and the profound impact these, and all, conflicts have had on our country.”
The Poppy Wall of Honor will be on display through Sunday, May 25.
Visitors to USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor view the display on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Washington. The experience centered around the poppy flower, the international symbol of remembrance. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
A family has their photo taken at USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor on display on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Washington. USAA first installed the 134-foot Poppy Wall of Honor on the National Mall in 2018 and has since hosted more than 50,000 visitors from around the world. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
A visitor photographs a placard on display on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Washington at USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor. The Poppy Wall of Honor will be on display through Sunday, May 25. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
