The US will commemorate Memorial Day 2024 on 27 May this year. The national holiday dates back over 150 years and honors the members of the US Armed Forces that gave the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.
The origins of the holiday can be traced back to the aftermath of the American Civil War. Originally known as Decoration Day, it was established as a time for the country to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and pay tribute to their contributions.
READ ALSO: Memorial Day 2024: When is it and what is it?
We’re proud to note that serving as Grand Marshals of the 2024 National Memorial Day Parade are nearly TWO DOZEN surviving heroes of World War II, representing all 16 million who served in uniform and the 400,000 who did not come home. Joining will be veterans of D-Day, Okinawa,… pic.twitter.com/6oazbE4l5B
— American Veterans Center (@AVCupdate) May 24, 2024
Memorial Day day-long events
Memorial Day is marked by various activities and traditions such as memorial ceremonies, observing a minute of remembrance, and planting flags on graves.
Parades are a highlight of the holiday, and there seems to be some disagreement as to which town held the oldest one.
The longest-running Memorial Day parades
According to the U.S. Veterans Magazine, the Ironton-Lawrence Memorial Day parade held in Ironton, Ohio, is “recognized as the oldest continuously running Memorial Day parade in the nation, beginning all the way back in 1868. It adds that “the oldest (and first) Memorial Day parade in the country was held a year earlier in Doylestown, Pennsylvania”.
However, according to Doylestown Post, “Since 1868 Doylestown, Pennsylvania has held annual Memorial Day parades which it claims to be the nation’s oldest continuously running.” It goes on to say that the parade in Rochester, Wisconsin, predates Doylestown’s by one year.
READ ALSO: What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?
It’s the Nation’s LARGEST! We’re along Constitutional Ave. NW where the National Memorial Day Parade kicks off at 2PM today. @AVCupdate President Tim Holbert joined @fox5dc to speak about the parade’s importance & what’s new this year.
Live again at around 7:45, 8, 8:45 & 9a👇 pic.twitter.com/aM3FbEjl5y
— Stephanie Ramirez (@RamirezReports) May 27, 2024
The biggest Memorial Day parades
There is also no consensus on which city holds the largest parade. The U.S. Veterans Magazine says that both the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., and the Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade in Queens, New York, lay claim to being the biggest Memorial Day parade in the country.
FAQs
Brooklyn's 2024 Memorial Day Parade is nation's oldest.
What city hosts the oldest Memorial Day parade? ›
The longest-running Memorial Day parades
However, according to Doylestown Post, “Since 1868 Doylestown, Pennsylvania has held annual Memorial Day parades which it claims to be the nation's oldest continuously running.” It goes on to say that the parade in Rochester, Wisconsin, predates Doylestown's by one year.
Where is the largest Memorial Day parade? ›
The National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., is the largest Memorial Day event in the country.
What is the largest parade in the United States? ›
“Billed as the world's largest parade — with an estimated 2 to 3 million spectators — the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York marks the unofficial start of the holiday season,” writes Travel Trivia.
What is the oldest parade? ›
The first significant procession to be documented in the United States was the one that took place in Philadelphia the day the Constitution was Ratified on June 21 1788: it did not display the typical 'street line' ceremonial organization of a parade and ended, as it was the custom at the time, with all the ...
Which city holds the largest and oldest civilian parade? ›
NEW YORK (TND) — New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade kicked off in the 1700s, with 2024 marking the event's 263rd year.
What city in Georgia has a big parade? ›
That modest procession on March 17, 1824, launched one of the most beloved — and profitable — traditions in Savannah. On Saturday, Georgia's oldest city will celebrate the 200th anniversary of its St. Patrick's Day parade, which has grown over time into one of America's largest.
Where is the largest celebration held outside of the US? ›
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
You'll find incredible celebrations all over Brazil, but the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is the largest and liveliest.
Which city holds the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the United States? ›
First held in 1920, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade has a vibrant legacy as the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in America.
What is the Memorial Day weekend in 2024? ›
(Monday, May 27, 2024) Memorial Day, or Decoration Day, is a Federal Holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
The celebration climaxes on July 4 with the oldest annual parade in the United States, "The Military, Civic and Firemen's Parade", an event that draws over 200,000 people from Rhode Island and around the world. These elaborate celebrations give Bristol its nickname, "America's most patriotic town".
What is the largest night parade in the US? ›
The Fiesta Flambeau® Parade is known as America's Largest Illuminated Night Parade, and has over one hundred entrants featuring bands, dancers, floats, and other entertainers. The idea of this illuminated night parade was the brainchild of Reynolds Andricks who was long time Fiesta® entrepreneur.
What is the largest parade in Chicago? ›
The Bud Billiken Parade has been held the second Saturday of every August since 1929.
Where was the first National Day parade held? ›
On 9 August 1966, Singapore marked the first anniversary of its independence with the inaugural National Day Parade held at the Padang.
How old is the Doylestown Memorial Day parade? ›
The first Doylestown parade was held in 1868, shortly after the Civil War ended, to commemorate service members who died in the line of duty. The borough's strong Memorial Day tradition could be seen by the respect and appreciation the crowds showed veterans' organizations as they marched through town.
How old is Macy Day parade? ›
But how did this parade get started, and how has it grown over the years into the biggest Thanksgiving Day spectacle in America? The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in 1924.
