CMT Blog: Archive

For the last 21 years, the National Memorial Day Concert has been held to remember the heroes who gave their lives for our country. We all know someone who has served and unfortunately many can speak of a loved one who did not return. Truly, this day is only a drop of water in the ocean of thanks that they deserve, yet it is an important reminder. Of course, Memorial Day itself goes back to just after the Civil War, but the founders of this modern ceremony must have known that a free concert would provide an opportunity for all of America to gather at once. This Sunday (May 30), it will be headlined by Brad Paisley and Lionel Richie and broadcast live on PBS at 8 p.m. ET.

Held on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building, the concert will be hosted by Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna. This year the main themes will be honoring the new generation of widows and widowers whose spouses served in Iraq and Afghanistan, paying tribute to the veterans of the Korean War on its 60th anniversary and remembering the over 125,000 WWI and WWII soldiers who were laid to rest in foreign lands.

From browsing the website, I think the part I'm looking forward to most, apart from the music, will be the eulogies. They will be sad, to be sure, but also uplifting and filled with hope and determination. Each year, thousands of people write remembrances, prayers and poems to honor their fallen loved ones and send them in. Each one is read, and around Veterans Day they are hand-delivered to the appropriate memorial (depending on which war the person served in). During the live broadcast this Sunday, a few will be read aloud for everyone to share in the story. Speaking of and remembering our loved ones often is the best way to honor them. You can submit your own story at the National Memorial Day Concert website.