Memorial Day 2026
May 25, 2026
In some of the most famous phrases in the American lexicon, President Lincoln declared that the ceremony to consecrate the ground of Gettysburg as a cemetery was in vain. He observed that the site had already been consecrated by the sacrifice of the soldiers who died during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Lincoln said,
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
Lincoln then reversed the object of consecration from the battlefield to “us, the living.” In doing so, he charged future generations with the task of completing the work of the battle that took place in July 1863.
Lincoln said,
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
This Memorial Day, let us honor those who gave their lives for this nation by remembering their sacrifice. But let’s not stop there. We should honor them by rededicating ourselves “to the great task remaining before us.”
We are still engaged in a civil war for the soul of our nation. We are able to continue the fight today because others brought us to this moment by sacrificing their lives. We owe them a debt that can be discharged only by refusing to surrender. We face a daunting task, but none of us is being asked to march into battle with rifles and bayonets to face cannons and cavalry.
True, we face dangers and threats beyond the imagination of Lincoln and the Founders. But their strategy and ours remain the same: Continue the battle to preserve democracy long enough for the next generation to relieve us. Ours will not be—cannot be—the generation to falter.
Today, we remember that our nation’s fallen have consecrated us to carry on the battle. That is both a sacred duty and a privilege of rare good fortune.
It is an honor to be by your side in that ongoing struggle.
I will talk to you tomorrow!
Pro-democracy protest photos
American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne, Belleau, France, final resting place of 2,289 US soldiers killed in the Battle of Belleau Wood, June 1–26, 1918. Taken by R.B. Hubbell, May 27, 2023.
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I visit Willamette National Cemetery every Memorial Day weekend, plus other cemeteries, in honor of my loved ones.
My dad was a WW11 veteran in the South Pacific. He made it home with malaria but he made it home. He was in that arena for 31/2 years. Both of my parents are buried at Willamette. It is a moment where you are met by a sea of rippling national colors that give one pause not only for the beauty found as an image but also for the magnitude of being witness to a symbol of our democracy.
It fills one with hope.
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The weather in our part of northern NH was horrible today. A few North Country Resilience volunteers managed to put up messages at two I-93 overpasses and to stay and wave to people in passing cars. Our messages on the bridge in Bethlehem, NH received many honks, waves, and flashing lights: THEY FOUGHT FASCISM and HEROES AREN'T LOSERS.
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Protest at the National Seashore on Cape Cod featuring a tribute to those killed so far in Trump’s unlawful war of choice in Iran. Sponsored by Indivisible Outer Cape, Nauset Citizens Alliance, and Lower Cape Indivisible. Overwhelming and enthusiastic support from heavy Memorial Day traffic!
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Today a group of about 100, small but mighty, with a wonderful band, walked across the Memorial Bridge to the site of Trump’s arch. Horns honked, and fists were raised from open car windows. One woman told me her husband is buried at Arlington Cemetery and that to her, this was the most devastating action Trump had taken. So many tourists and families stopping to look and learn. A meaningful action today.
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Northampton, Mass.
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Images from Staten Island, NY, the Forgotten Borough
The Staten Island Action Coalition is a very active group whose mission is to Educate, Activate, and Mobilize the people of Staten Island. We do weekly Visibility Brigades, join with other groups to do Malliotakis Mondays (rallies in front of the only Republican congressional representative and a MAGA cult member from NYC), do demonstrations, leafletting, etc.
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Pics from right now - Activists standing their ground in support of a prisoner hunger strike at Delaney Hall, infamous immigrant detention center, Newark NJ
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May24, Indivisible/Commit to Democracy , Walnut Creek, Calif., weekly since Jan. 2025
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Rally at Beatrice, NE - Gage County Courthouse
We meet every Sunday - at “High Noon” for one hour - since April 6, 2025.
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Coral Gables (Miami-Dade County) Florida
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Memorial Day Weekend March- Burlington VT
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The “Good Trouble” band enlivens our neighborhood protest every Saturday. Never stop resisting!
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Burlington protest photos, Marilyn Humphries Photography
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Melrose Massachusetts protest photos
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Our group is on a pedestrian bridge over the 210 Freeway in La Verne, CA. Lots of honk for this message,
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Loveland, CO…one of our faithful Rush Hour brigadiers at our regular Saturday sidewalk rallies.
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Englewood Florida
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We protest because it builds community. The picket line is a great place to connect and organize. Those driving by honk and give the “thumbs up” salute (mostly overwhelmingly) to say that they are with us.
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We have held a protest in front of Tesla Motors, Lyndhurst, OH every Saturday since 2/15/25. Messages change weekly, our resistance does not.
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St Augustine, FL hitting the streets Memorial Day weekend!
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Stalwarts over Memorial Day weekend in West Brookfield, MA—been out here since 2020
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Every Saturday in Salt Lake City we line both sides of a busy overpass or the street adjacent to the governor’s mansion, a proposed ICE detention facility, or in this case the state capitol to protest a data center that will be three times the size of Manhattan!
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Pittsfield, MA
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5/22 Sacramento CA 48th Street Overpass action
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Kalama, Washington rally
Great signs! "We are under reacting." Jessica Craven, Chop Wood Carry Water, always reports on the good things that are happening. Here's one: "The Colorado Democratic Party has formally condemned and censured Governor Jared Polis for granting clemency to election denier Tina Peters. Polis is hereby banned from speaking or being honored at party events."
If we counted every honker who drives by no kings protests, bridge brigades, and all the other protests we all participate in we’d have met that 3% goal and more of Americans protesting across this country. I’m always moved to hear all those honkers. Every honk is a protest!!! Signs should ask people to honk in support.