The Korean War: Why It's Called the Forgotten War
Between WWII and Vietnam, more than 36,000 Americans died in three brutal years of fighting in Korea. Here is the real story of the Forgotten War, what happened...
Veterans
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Memorial Day Cookout: Honor the Fallen, Enjoy the Day
A Memorial Day cookout is not disrespectful. A cookout without a moment of silence at 3 PM is. Here is how to fly the flag right, set out...
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: History and How to Visit
Polished black granite, 58,318 names, and a 21-year-old architecture student who got the design right. Here is the full story of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington,...
Patriot Guard Riders: Who They Are and Why They Ride
When the wrong people show up to a fallen hero's funeral, the Patriot Guard Riders ride between them and the family. Here is how they started in 2005,...
Flags In: How Arlington Honors Every Grave for Memorial Day
On the Thursday before Memorial Day, the Old Guard quietly places more than 260,000 American flags at Arlington National Cemetery. One for every grave, one boot length forward,...
Rolling to Remember: The Memorial Day Ride That Honors POW/MIA
What Rolling to Remember actually is, why Rolling Thunder ended (and what kept rolling), and how to honor the Memorial Day weekend ride from anywhere in America.
The Battle Cross: What the Fallen Soldier Memorial Means
An upturned rifle. A helmet on top. A pair of combat boots in front. Dog tags hanging from the grip. The Battle Cross is one of the most...
Is It Okay to Say 'Happy Memorial Day'?
Every May, the same debate flares up. Is Happy Memorial Day disrespectful? Here is the honest answer, plus the better phrases to use on May 25 and the...
Why We Place Coins on Military Graves: What Each Coin Means
If you have walked through a national cemetery and seen coins resting on the headstones, none of them were left by accident. Penny, nickel, dime, quarter. Each one...
Blue Star vs Gold Star Family: What's the Difference?
A Blue Star banner means a loved one is serving. A gold star means a loved one was lost. Here is what each Service Banner means, where the...
Honor Flight: What It Is and How It Honors Our Veterans
Honor Flight is the nonprofit that flies WWII, Korean, and Vietnam War veterans to DC, completely free, to see the memorials built for them. Here is what the...
The Flag-Draped Casket: Meaning, History, and Tradition
A flag-draped casket is one of the most powerful images in American life. Here is what the tradition means, where it came from, who qualifies, and the rules...
What Is a 21-Gun Salute? History, Meaning, and When It's Used
What people call a 21-gun salute at a military funeral is usually the three-volley rifle salute. Here is the difference, the history behind the number 21, and the...
Gold Star Family: What It Means and How to Honor Them
A Gold Star Family is the family of a service member who died in the line of duty. Here is where the gold star symbol came from, what...
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: History, the Old Guard, and What It Means
It sits on a hill in Arlington, watched over by a soldier every minute since 1937. Here is the story of who rests at the Tomb of the...
Taps: The History and Meaning of America's Most Solemn Bugle Call
Twenty-four notes. About fifty seconds. The story of how a Union general and his bugler wrote America's most solemn military call at Harrison's Landing in July 1862, and...
Memorial Day Poppies: Why We Wear Them and What They Mean
The red poppy is one of America's oldest symbols of Memorial Day remembrance. Here's the history behind the flower, what your donation supports, and how to wear one...
The 13 Folds of the American Flag and What Each One Means
The American flag is folded 13 times into a triangle before it is stored or handed to a family at a military funeral. Each fold carries a traditional...
Armed Forces Day 2026: What It Is and How to Honor It
Armed Forces Day 2026 falls on Saturday, May 16. This guide covers the history behind the holiday, how it differs from Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and practical...
Memorial Day 2026: History, Traditions, and How to Honor It
Memorial Day 2026 falls on May 25th during America's 250th birthday year. Learn the real history, proper flag protocol, and 7 ways to honor the fallen at home.