Community Corner

Get Out: Ride of the Patriots, Memorial Day Service

Memorial Day events on Sunday.

Join the Memorial Day celebrations May 29 with a hometown parade, the annual Ride of the Patriots and a hometown memorial service.

  • Ride of the Patriots

This ride honors military and public safety personnel and is a staging area for Rolling Thunder.

The parade will step off at 7:45 a.m. on eastbound Fairfax Boulevard from Capt. Pell’s Crab House near Plantation Parkway and will end at Patriot Harley-Davidson, 9739 Fairfax Boulevard.

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Opening ceremonies begin at 8:05 a.m. at Patriot Harley-Davidson.

Beginning at 9 a.m., riders will depart under police escort for the Pentagon.

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Bleachers will be set up for spectators and veterans groups will sell food and drinks on the route.

Parking is available at Fairfax High School and the Fairfax Circle shopping center. For information, visit the Ride of the Patriots Website.

Rolling Thunder began in 1987 to remember Vietnam War prisoners of war and military personnel missing in action. During the annual ride, motorcyclists from around the country and world travel en masse from the Pentagon past the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

  • Memorial Day Service by VFW, American Legion

Following this ceremony, if you wish, you may accompany the VFW into Fairfax Cemetery for a remembrance of their departed comrades while American Legion members go back to Oak Street for their march to the cemetery.

9  a.m. start

• Colors to half mast

• Opening prayer (Commander Houston, VFW Post 8469)

• Pledge of Allegiance (Comrade McAnaw)

• Remarks by US Congressman Gerald Connolly

• Remarks by Chairman the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Sharon Bulova

• Remarks by Braddock District Supervisor John Cook

• Remarks by Fairfax City Mayor Robert Lederer

• Remarks by Fairfax City Councilwoman Joan Cross

• Reading of the Fairfax Honor Roll (volunteers line up to read names from the book at the podium. Pause briefly for the bell to toll for each name)

• Laying of the wreaths at the Fairfax War Memorial (Comrade McAnaw)

• Closing prayer (Commander Sussan, American Legion Post 177)

• Playing of Taps (Comrade Hank Roeder)

The service takes place at the Fairfax War Memorial at the corner of Route 123/Chain Bridge Road and Route 236/Main Street.


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