A flower is placed during the fifth Flowers of Remembrance Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
ARLINGTON, Va. — Hundreds of people attended the fifth annual Flowers of Remembrance Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
Veterans and civilians lined up in solemn queues to place pink and white carnations at the base of the tomb to memorialize those who have sacrificed and served the nation.
Although the weather was cool and overcast with light drizzle, school groups, veteran-based motorcycle clubs and Honor Flight participants stood patiently in line waiting for their turn to place flowers. Some walked past after laying down their carnations, while others knelt or stood silently and saluted.
Tomb sentinels switched posts as a bell rang to mark the passing hour, though there was one unscheduled change because a sentinel had a defect in their uniform.
As the pile of flowers grew to nearly a foot high, three Tomb Sentinel trainees gathered armfuls of flowers to redistribute them around the base of the tomb, a task they continued through the end of the ceremony.
The flowers will remain at the tomb until the end of Memorial Day on Monday.
Flowers of Remembrance Day pays tribute to the first official national Decoration Day, now known as Memorial Day. The ceremony first took place at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1868, to honor U.S. service members who died in the Civil War.
Flowers rest at the base of the Tomb of the Unknown Solider during the fifth Flowers of Remembrance Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Members of an Honor Flight pay their respects during the fifth Flowers of Remembrance Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
A Tomb Guard moves past the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier while saluting during the fifth Flowers of Remembrance Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Members of the public observe the ceremony during the fifth Flowers of Remembrance Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
A Tomb sentinel in training moves flowers during the fifth Flowers of Remembrance Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Members of the public pay their respects during the fifth Flowers of Remembrance Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
