Memorial Day Service in Washington, 2024

The Memorial Day service in Washington’s central park on Monday morning was a mix of tradition and controversy as keynote speaker and retired Lt. Col. Darwin Peterson took a partisan tone in his address. Peterson argued that what he called “social and moral decay” had created a nation fallen service members would no longer recognize.

In his speech, Peterson posed the question of whether the sacrifices of fallen soldiers had truly made the country better, and he answered with a resounding no. He pointed to various issues such as abortion procedures, illegal immigration, federal support of electric vehicles, transgender rights in schools, and criminal charges against former President Donald Trump as evidence that the nation was not doing enough to honor the service members memorialized on May 27.

Calling on the audience to “elect leaders” that would address these issues, Peterson received a standing ovation from some while others remained seated, showing a divided response to his remarks. Despite the controversy, the ceremonies continued with the traditional rituals of honoring fallen veterans, including the reading of names of deceased veterans, the folding of the American flag, a rifle salute, taps, and the singing of “God Bless America.”

The event concluded with a benediction from Pastor Anthony DeVaughn and Legion Post Commander Michael York thanking the crowd for honoring the sacrifices of those who gave their lives for freedom. The mix of tradition and controversy at the Memorial Day service left attendees with much to reflect on as they paid tribute to the fallen heroes.