When is the Memorial Day ceremony at Tahoma National Cemetery in 2026?

The Tahoma National Cemetery Memorial Day Commemorative Ceremony is on Monday, May 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the Main Flag Pole Assembly Area. The ceremony includes a wreath-laying, rifle volley, and the playing of Taps. It is open to the public with no registration required.

Why is Carry The Load holding a march at Tahoma National Cemetery?

Tahoma is one of only three VA national cemeteries nationwide where Carry The Load holds a Memorial May march — alongside Los Angeles National Cemetery and Jefferson Barracks in Missouri. Carry The Load is a Dallas-based nonprofit that runs 75+ Memorial May marches to raise awareness about military and first responder sacrifice.

Where is Tahoma National Cemetery?

Tahoma National Cemetery is at 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA 98042 — approximately 30 miles south of Naval Station Everett via I-5, a 40-minute drive under normal traffic conditions.

What Fleet and Family Support resources are available for NAVSTA Everett families on Memorial Day?

The Fleet and Family Support Center at Naval Station Everett can be reached at (425) 304-3735. It provides deployment support programs, including resources for military families with deployed sailors who want to observe Memorial Day locally or connect with support services during May.

Is the Tahoma National Cemetery Memorial Day ceremony free?

Yes. The Memorial Day ceremony at Tahoma National Cemetery is free and open to the public. No registration is required. Parking is available on-site at the cemetery.

Tahoma National Cemetery's 2026 Memorial Day: The Complete Guide for Navy Families, Veterans, and Visitors

Q: Who can be buried at Tahoma National Cemetery?

Tahoma National Cemetery provides burial benefits to eligible veterans and their dependents, including opening and closing of the grave, a government headstone or marker, burial flag, and Presidential Memorial Certificate at no cost to the family.

Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent is one of only three VA national cemeteries in the United States where Carry The Load holds a Memorial May march. The VA’s 2026 Memorial May campaign — running through May 25 — makes this one of the most program-rich Memorial Day windows for military families, veterans, and visitors in the Pacific Northwest. Here is the complete guide.

Why Tahoma Is Getting National Attention in 2026

The VA’s National Cemetery Administration runs a monthlong “Memorial May” campaign every year leading up to Memorial Day. In 2026, the campaign partners with three major nonprofits — Carry The Load, Travis Manion Foundation, and Victory for Veterans — to organize volunteer opportunities, shared stories, and ceremonies at VA national cemeteries nationwide.

Carry The Load, a Dallas-based nonprofit founded by two former Special Operations veterans, holds Memorial May marches in 75+ locations across the country. Of those 75+ stops, only three are at VA national cemeteries: Tahoma in Kent, Washington; Los Angeles National Cemetery in California; and Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri. Being one of three makes Tahoma a nationally significant site for 2026.

Carry The Load’s Kent march took place on April 30. Volunteers walked to and from Tahoma National Cemetery as part of the broader national relay that connects thousands of marchers across the country through Memorial Day weekend. The march raised awareness about military and first responder sacrifice throughout May.

The Memorial Day Ceremony: May 25, 1:00 PM

The annual Tahoma National Cemetery Memorial Day Commemorative Ceremony takes place on Monday, May 25, 2026, beginning at 1:00 PM at the Main Flag Pole Assembly Area.

The traditional ceremony sequence includes a wreath-laying ceremony, a rifle volley, and the playing of Taps. Remarks are typically delivered by local civic leaders and retired military officers. The ceremony is open to the public. No registration is required.

Tahoma National Cemetery is located at 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA 98042. The cemetery is approximately 30 miles south of NAVSTA Everett via I-5 — a 40-minute drive under normal conditions, longer during Memorial Day weekend traffic.

VA’s Memorial May Campaign: What Else Is Happening in May

Beyond the Carry The Load march and the May 25 ceremony, the VA’s 2026 Memorial May campaign includes:

Travis Manion Foundation programming: The foundation, which focuses on developing character in youth through service, offers volunteer opportunities at and around VA cemeteries during Memorial May. Families can participate in wreath laying, grounds beautification, and community service events.

Victory for Veterans: The third VA partner nonprofit focuses on veterans’ welfare and community connection. Their Memorial May programming includes storytelling and sharing efforts to honor veterans interred at VA national cemeteries.

Online memorial participation: The VA’s National Cemetery Administration offers virtual ways to honor veterans interred at Tahoma and other national cemeteries for families who cannot travel to Kent on May 25.

About Tahoma National Cemetery

Tahoma National Cemetery is a VA national cemetery in Kent, Washington. approximately 15 miles south of Seattle. It is one of the Pacific Northwest’s primary VA national cemeteries and serves eligible veterans and their dependents from across the region.

The cemetery provides burial benefits including opening and closing of the grave, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate at no cost to the family. It is also a Wreaths Across America site, with wreath-laying ceremonies held in December.

For NAVSTA Everett service members and their families, Tahoma is the closest VA national cemetery. The Fleet and Family Support Center at Naval Station Everett — reachable at (425) 304-3735 — provides additional support resources for military families navigating Memorial Day, including deployment support programs for families with sailors currently deployed.

Getting to Tahoma: Directions from Snohomish County

From Naval Station Everett or downtown Everett: Take I-5 South approximately 28 miles to Exit 152 (Auburn/Enumclaw). Follow SR-164 East and then SE 240th Street to the cemetery entrance. Total drive: 35–45 minutes under normal conditions. Allow additional time on Memorial Day weekend. Parking is available on-site. Public transit options from Everett are limited on Memorial Day — driving or carpooling is recommended.