This weekend, Americans pause to remember those who gavetheir lives while serving in the nation’s armed forces. Falling every year on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day honors the men and women who died while serving in all branches of the U.S. military—nearly1.2million military personnelin all conflicts since the Revolutionary War.
Memorial Day honors those who have died in military service, while Veterans Day in November honors all veterans living and dead.
After the 2022 elections, NCSL identified at least 748 military veterans serving in the legislatures of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the five U.S. territories. These veterans make up about 10% of the 7,575 state and territorial legislators nationwide.
Military and Veterans Programming at Summit
NCSL will cover military issues and veterans affairs in several sessions at the Legislative Summit in Louisville, Ky., this summer. For more information, see the full Summit agenda.
- Military and Veterans Affairs Task Force Preconference Meeting,Sunday, Aug. 4,8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Innovative Policies to Serve the Nation’s Veterans,Monday, Aug. 5, 2:45-3:45 p.m.
- How States Are Breaking Up With ‘Forever Chemicals,’Monday, Aug. 5, 4-5 p.m.
- A State-Focused National Security Briefing,Wednesday, Aug. 7, 10:45 a.m.-Noon
First celebrated as Decoration Day in the years after the Civil War, Memorial Day was designated a federal holiday in 1971. The day is observed with parades, flag displays and visits to veterans homes, cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembranceoccurs at 3 p.m. local time, while 11 a.m. is designated as a moment for prayer and reflection. A long-standing tradition on public television—one that “unites the country in remembrance and appreciation of those who gave their lives for our nation”—is theNational Memorial Day Concert, this year featuring actors Gary Sinise, Joe Mantegna and Bryan Cranston and performances by Gary LeVox of Rascal Flats and several military bands and choruses.
Other countries around the world also observe asimilar day of remembrance,including the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, France, Turkey, Nigeria and Italy.
NCSL staff join their fellow citizens in honoring and remembering those who have died in service to the nation and recognizing the sacrifices made by the families who have lost loved ones over the years.
NCSL’sTask Force on Military and Veterans Affairsenables state legislators and legislative staff to assist military service members and veterans in their states and work with nearby military installations on key issues. Contact NCSL to participate in this effort.
Jim Reed staffs NCSL’s Task Force on Military and Veterans Affairs.
