Some of the Memorial Day weekend events around the 49th State (add yours in the comment section below and we’ll add them as needed):
Anchorage:
Headstone cleanup: Saturday, Nuvision Alaska invites the public to help restore and clean veteran headstones at Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery, 535 E. Ninth Ave. from 11 am to 2 pm. This is the fourth annual year for the cleanup. Bring gloves, 5-gallon buckets and water spray bottles, natural or nylon bristle scrub brushes, and small hand tools. A reception to follow at the American Legion Post 1. More information about how to participate further down the page.
Anchorage Remembers Memorial Day Ceremony: Delaney Park Strip on Ninth Ave. and I Street, 9:30 to 10:30 am. This is the official municipal ceremony in Anchorage. For more information, contact Anchorage’s Military and Veterans Affairs Chair David Foli: 907-444-4646.
Memorial Day BBQ at American Legion Post 1 – Hosted by Nuvision Alaska at American Legion Jack Henry Post 1. A community barbecue to honor the Monday holiday. Takes place Monday from 12:30 to 3 pm. Military ID needed and preregistration requested at this link.
Memorial Day Military Appreciation Concert – Held at Central Lutheran Church, featuring performances to honor military service members. Takes place Sunday, 6:30 pm at 1420 Cordova St, Anchorage.
Memorial Day Event at JBER- Joint Base Elmendorf Fort Richardson – Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony on May 26, 2025, at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery. The ceremony is free and open to the public. Pre-ceremonial music begins at 11:30 am, and the ceremony itself starts at noon. To make access easier, the right-hand traffic lane of the Fort Richardson Gate will be dedicated for direct access to the cemetery between 10 am and 12:15 pm. Those arriving outside of these hours will need to obtain a visitor pass at the Richardson Visitor Control Center. This year’s keynote speaker is Verdie Bowen, director of the Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs and a 23-year veteran of the US Air Force.
Juneau
Memorial Day service Monday, 11-11:30 am Alaska Memorial Park. Organized by American Legion Auke Bay Post #25.
Auke Bay Post #25 Memorial Day Open House, 11:30 am.
Mat-Su
Veterans Wall of Honor Memorial Day ceremony: 1 p.m. Monday, 801 Wasilla-Fishhook Road in Wasilla. Line up for the walk at 10:30 am at the Mat-Su Wall of Honor and proceed to Aurora Cemetery starting at 10:45 am. At 11 am, the memorial ceremony will be led by VFW 9365. The walk starts at 10:45 am, and at 11 am. A memorial service will be held at the Wall of Honor at 1 pm. Potluck at 1:30 pm at VFW Post 9365 at 301 E. Lake View Ave. in Wasilla.
Kodiak
- Kodiak Crab Festival – A major annual event started Thursday and ends Monday, featuring fun events, a solemn blessing of the fleet, and a memorial service for lost fishermen and mariners.
More about the headstone cleanup in Anchorage:
Now in its fourth year, the “Honoring Our Heroes Headstone Clean-Up” event returns to Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, from 11 am to 2 pm. The event is a collaboration between Nuvision Credit Union and American Legion Jack Henry Post 1.
Community members, including veterans, active-duty military personnel, and local residents, are invited to help clean and care for the grave markers of veterans buried at the cemetery. Volunteers will be provided with tools, though bringing personal supplies is also encouraged. Refreshments will be available, courtesy of veteran-owned businesses.
Over the first three years, volunteers cleaned more than 1,800 headstones. This year, organizers hope to extend the effort to additional cemetery tracts with the help of over 150 volunteers.
The event also features a coordinated tribute:
The American Legion Auxiliary will place 1,400 crosses on veterans’ grave markers.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) will adorn all veteran headstones with American flags.
Volunteers, alongside Nuvision representatives, will place pennies on each headstone, following the military tradition of leaving a coin to signify respect and remembrance.
The clean-up will be followed by a Thank You Reception for all volunteers at American Legion Post 1 from 2 – 3:30 pm., 840 W. Fireweed Lane
Those interested in volunteering can register in advance through Nuvision’s event page.