QUICK POST-CEREMONY LINKS FOR OUR 2025 FAMILIES

Click here to order In Memory t-shirts – https://www.vvmf.org/In-Memory-Program/In-Memory-Gear/

Click here to see/order ceremony photos and additional copies of your honoree’s tribute certificate – https://vietnamveteransmemorialfund.zenfolio.com/

Click here to order additional printed programs, garden flags, and lapel pins – https://shopvvmf.org/in-memory/

Click here to see ceremony video – https://www.vvmf.org/live/

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Welcome to our 2026 In Memory families!

Much more information to come and this is the page you should bookmark to always find the most current information about In Memory weekend!

☐  Notify Family and Friends of your veteran’s induction into the In Memory Honor Roll at the In Memory Ceremony on Saturday, June 20th, 2026. All are welcome to attend, or to watch live at www.vvmf.org/live.

☐  View and Share your Veteran’s Honor Roll Page posted here: at vvmf.org/Honor-Roll/.

☐  Join the In Memory Facebook Page to connected and be kept up-to-date: “In Memory: Families of Vietnam Veterans Lost to Agent Orange and PTSD.”

☐  Accommodations for In Memory weekend:  A block of discounted rooms will be made available in January of 2026 at the 2026 In Memory headquarters hotel for In Memory families to make reservations. VVMF will offer complimentary bus service that will transport In Memory families from the hotel to and from the In Memory ceremony and Father’s Day Rose Remembrance. The headquarters hotel also offers complimentary shuttle service from Reagan National Airport (DCA) to the hotel and back. All 2026 In Memory families will be informed of the date that the room block will open in January 2026.

In Memory 2026 Weekend Event Schedule

Arrive in Washington, DC

• • The closest airport to the ceremony site is Washington Reagan National Airport.

Friday, June 19, 2026 at 5 PM EST: Meet and Greet Dinner (optional and ticketed)

• VVMF hosts an optional Meet and Greet dinner at the headquarters hotel on Friday evening prior to the ceremony for families who would like to come together for a meal. Tickets will go on sale for this event in spring of 2026.

Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 10 AM EST: In Memory Ceremony

• As the ceremony consists of the name-reading of the new inductees, the length of ceremony depends on how long it will take participants to read those names.
• All 2026 applicants will be required to RSVP to let us know if they will or won’t be in attendance so we can plan accordingly for chair and bus rental as well as know how many volunteers are needed to read names. RSVPs will be due in May of 2026.

Sunday, June 21, 2026 from 10 AM to 12 PM EST: Father’s Day Rose Remembrance

• Families are invited to attend VVMF’s Father’s Day Rose Remembrance from 10 a.m. – Noon. This is a come and go activity with no formal program. In the spring of 2026, rose sponsorship will be open and for $5 you will be able to sponsor a rose and leave a personal message to be laid at the Memorial site. If you can’t be in attendance, a volunteer will lay your rose/card for you.

Where should I stay?
Details on the In Memory 2026 headquarters hotel will be released in January 2026. Updates will be sent via email and posted on this page as they are made available.

Where is the closest airport?
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) is 15 minutes from downtown Washington, D.C.

Alternative airports:  Dulles International (IAD) is approximately 45 minutes from Washington, D.C and Baltimore Washington International (BWI) is approximately 1 hour from Washington, D.C.

Can I take Amtrak?
Washington, DC (WAS) Union Station is about 20 minutes from The Wall.  We recommend that you utilize the metro or a taxi. Union Station has its own stop on the Metro.

Does VVMF provide transportation to and from the induction ceremony?
Yes, VVMF provides buses to and from the headquarters hotel and induction ceremony site.  Attendees will be asked to RSVP as part of the ceremony RSVP for these buses to ensure VVMF rents enough for everyone wishing to utilize them.  If you are not staying at the headquarters hotel you may still take the VVMF provided buses to and from the induction ceremony site, but you will have to provide your own transportation to and from the headquarters hotel.

Is there parking available at the induction ceremony?
Parking is very limited and we do not recommend attendees drive to the induction ceremony. Parking along Constitution Avenue and many of the streets around the National Mall is paid/metered parking with a time limit and fills up quickly.

What is the closest Metro stop to the induction ceremony?
Foggy Bottom/George Washington University, blue, orange and silver line, is the closest stop – turn right at the top of the stairs and walk south on 23rd Street about six blocks (approximately 1 mile) and that will bring you right to the Memorial.

Can I take a Taxi/Uber/Lyft to the induction ceremony?
If you are trying to take a taxi/Uber/Lyft to get there, the address that a visitor should use is: Constitution Ave NW & 21st St NW, Washington, DC 20245.

I plan to take a longer trip so that I can explore the area. What is there to do and see?

• National Mall and Memorial Parks: A group of memorials and monuments within sight of and virtually steps away from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
• Arlington National Cemetery: The final resting place for over 400,000 service members, and home to monuments, memorials, and dedicated trees such as the Gold Star Mothers Memorial Tree, the Nurses Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial Tree, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Those staying at the Crystal Gateway Marriott or a neighboring hotel are just one “Metro” stop away from Arlington National Cemetery. Those interested in taking a tram tour can purchase tickets here.

• The Tidal Basin: A scenic, waterfront, 2 mile walk that takes you right past the FDR Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial. The Tidal Basin is about a 20 minute walk from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and about a 25 minute walk from the nearest Metro stop, so those interested in a visit here should be aware that it requires extensive walking and a bit more planning to fit it into your weekend plans.
• The White House: Those interested in a White House tour should note that they must request a tour by contacting their Member of Congress. That being said, even those who don’t request tours still enjoy walking by the building and snapping photos.
• Smithsonian Museums: Metro-accessible and free of charge to enter. Currently, you can walk right up to the American History, Natural History, and American Indian museums and be admitted without a ticket or reservation, but for a select few museums like the African American History and Air and Space museums, you need to reserve a ticket. The tickets are still free, those two museums are just receiving a lot of visitors right now and need to keep the number of visitors manageable.
• Memorials and museums in Arlington, VA dedicated to service: Arlington, VA, home of Arlington National Cemetery, also houses the Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard Memorials, as well as the Army and Marine Corps Museums. Unlike the clusters of memorials, monuments, and museums in Washington, DC, the memorials in Arlington, VA are distanced from one another, meaning the quickest and easiest way to access them would be via car.
• George Washington’s Mount Vernon: The historic home of the first president lies about 15 miles south of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. A bit off the beaten path, the Mount Vernon estate would require use of the bus system, or a rented car, taxi, or rideshare app like Uber/Lyft/etc. to visit.

When is the 2026 Induction Ceremony?

The 2026 In Memory Induction Ceremony will be Saturday, June 20, 2026.

Will VVMF pay for or arrange my travel to Washington, D.C.?

While we hope all family members can attend, VVMF cannot pay for or arrange your travel to Washington, D.C. We do provide bus transportation from the headquarters hotel to and from the ceremony.  Hotel information is listed above. Updates will be sent via email and posted on this page as they are made available.

How is the In Memory program/ceremony funded?

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization that is supported by private donors, like you.  Your donations make it possible for us to maintain this program so critical to our efforts to promote healing and education, to hold the ceremony annually and to continue honoring many more veterans’ service and sacrifice.  Please consider making a donation and support the In Memory program.

How long is the induction ceremony?  

The In Memory Induction Ceremony length depends on how many veterans are being honored each year.  In 2025 we honored 774 veterans and the ceremony lasted more than three hours.

Will there be seating at the induction ceremony?

Yes, seating is provided for the ceremony for all those who RSVP.

How far is it from the bus drop-off to the induction ceremony location?

The buses drop off about 500 feet from the ceremony.

How far away are the bathrooms?

The closest bathrooms are about 300 feet from the ceremony location.

Will there be wheelchairs available?

Although we do not provide wheelchairs, the ceremony area is typically wheelchair accessible.  The ceremony is held on the grassy area and can be somewhat difficult to maneuver – especially if the ground is wet.

What is the dress code?   

There is no specific dress code.  Past participant attire has ranged from casual dress to church dress.  We recommend that you dress for the weather.  The ceremony will be held rain or shine.  Should it rain, the area can become muddy.  We recommend that you wear comfortable shoes that are not easily damaged.

It can be very hot and humid during the ceremony as it takes place in the open grass near the Memorial and there is there limited shade.  We recommend that you bring at least one bottle of water for each member of your party.  Hats and sunscreen are also strongly encouraged.

Will I be reading my honorees name at the induction ceremony?

Yes, you have the opportunity to read your loved one’s name during the ceremony.  Our Master of Ceremonies will indicate when the reading of the names will begin.  When you are at the microphone, please read your loved one’s name only. You may add their relationship to you, for example, “my husband, John Doe.”  Out of respect to other families, please refrain from making additional remarks.  If you are unable to attend the ceremony, a volunteer will take your honoree’s tribute to the stage and read your honoree’s name. The applicant will be sent the personal tribute certificate, In Memory lapel pin, one yearbook, and one In Memory garden flag after the ceremony.

What is the personal tribute certificate? 

The personal tribute certificate is a 8.5″ x 11″ certificate created by VVMF that contains the honoree’s name, photo(s), date of birth, date of death, and branch of service.

What do I do with the personal tribute certificate?

The personal tribute certificate is yours to take home as a lasting keepsake.

I didn’t attend the ceremony in-person, do I still get a tribute certificate?

We will send any tribute certificate not picked up at the ceremony to the applicant of that certificate’s honoree in the months following the ceremony. Any additional family members, friends, and loved ones may purchase additional tribute certificates here.

Will there be a photographer?

Yes, VVMF provides a professional photographer at the ceremony.  The photos will be available (about one week after the ceremony) for purchase on our website.  Last year’s photos can be seen here.  You will also be able to purchase additional copies of the personal tribute certificate after the ceremony.

Will this event be televised?

While the induction ceremony will not be televised, we do plan to live stream the induction ceremony on our website and Facebook page.  If you are watching on Facebook, please like our page to ensure you will be notified of the livestream and to stay up to date on the In Memory program. You can always watch past induction ceremonies that we were able to tape here.

Can I access photos from the ceremony?

Photos from the professional photographers can be purchased here.

I have seen T-shirts with honoree names on them.  How do I get one?

Limited edition t-shirts with the names of all our 2026 honorees will be made available for purchase during an online sale in April – May 2026. Proceeds from these sales go directly towards the cost of hosting the In Memory weekend of events. The link will be made available here when that shirt sale goes live.

Where can I purchase additional In Memory items?

In Memory yearbooks, pins, as well as other In Memory memorabilia will be available for purchase following the ceremony on our online store.

Can past participants attend the 2026 ceremony?

Each year we invite past participants to the annual In Memory ceremony to again read their honoree’s name aloud. We do ask past participants to complete an RSVP form indicating their plans to attend so we can plan accordingly.

Ceremony Site Map: