Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade: A tradition since 1867

Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade Is One Of The Oldest In The Nation

Gettysburg is known as the place where history was made—but it’s also home to one of the nation’s oldest Memorial Day traditions.

First held in 1867, the Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade remains one of the longest-running events honoring those who gave their lives for our country.

The day concludes with a solemn ceremony at Gettysburg National Cemetery, where Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address.

In a town where so many gave all, Memorial Day isn’t just observed—it’s a true commemoration to those who have sacrificed their lives for our country.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about this historic parade and meaningful ceremony.

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What Is the Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade?

The Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade takes place every year on Memorial Day and includes a variety of participants made up of veterans’ organizations, marching bands, reenactors, musical performers and local community groups.

The Memorial Day Parade event is sponsored by the Gettysburg Joint Veterans Memorial Day Commission (GJVMDC), and concludes with a Gettysburg Memorial Day Ceremony around 3 p.m. at the Rostrum in the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, part of the Gettysburg National Military Park.

“In eternal memory of those who stood for God and country.”

Washington DC has some major events planned for this year’s Memorial Day Weekend.

2026 Gettysburg Memorial Day Ceremony

Following the Memorial Day Parade through Gettysburg, the official ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. at the Rostrum in Gettysburg National Cemetery.

This year’s keynote speaker is Colonel (Ret.) Frank Hancock, a 30-year U.S. Army veteran and graduate of the United States Military Academy. He served with units including the 3rd Infantry Division and 101st Airborne Division, and later taught military strategy at the United States Army War College.

A decorated officer, he earned the Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and commanded an infantry battalion during Gulf War. Today, he continues to share his passion for history through education and writing.

Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade A Tradition

Gettysburg is a patriotic town that offers plenty of opportunities to honor our fallen throughout the year. Besides the fact that it has the country’s oldest continually running parade, Gettysburg Memorial Day events are special in many ways.

Small town parades are always great traditions and Gettysburg is no different. It’s special to be able to honor “those who gave their lives that the Nation might live,” when standing on the grounds of the American Civil War’s bloodiest battle.

The 159th Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade in 2026 starts at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 25, and the program at the cemetery begins at 3 p.m.

The grand tradition of the Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade is the perfect way to remember and honor the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country.

Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade Route

The Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade starts on Lefever Street in Gettysburg, heads northeast to East Middle Street, turns west on East Middle Street and south on Baltimore Street to the Soldiers’ National Cemetery.

It kicks off promptly at 2 p.m. Bring your American flags and a lawn chair!

Note: Many people get Gettysburg Memorial Day and Gettysburg Remembrance Day confused. They are really quite different!

Need A Place To Stay In Gettysburg?

Another Gettysburg Memorial Day Tradition

American flags flutter in the breeze in cemeteries across Adams County, Pennsylvania—where Gettysburg serves as the county seat.

Each Memorial Day, flags are carefully placed on the graves of Revolutionary War veterans at Lower Marsh Creek Cemetery, just outside town. Placing the flags each year is a true privilege. This cemetery is one of the oldest and largest frontier colonial burial grounds in the county.

Lower Marsh Creek Church Cemetery is the final resting place of 39 Revolutionary War soldiers, along with 8 from the War of 1812, 15 from the Civil War, 5 from World War II, and 9 from the Vietnam and Korea conflicts.

In 1790, the congregation chose a new site to worship several miles away from the cemetery and original church, near “The Great Road.” (Fairfield Road/Route 116)

The church was built in a grove of towering oaks near a spring, using stones carried in from nearby farms. More than 230 years later, it still stands—and is still used for regular worship.

It’s located at the intersection of the Knoxlyn Road and Fairfield Road.

To honor those who served, the Daughters of the American Revolution installed a bronze marker in 1990 listing the names of Revolutionary War veterans buried here. Each year, flags are placed beside their graves as part of Gettysburg’s Memorial Day observances.

Video of the Lower Marsh Creek Cemetery.

Related Post: Two of the most beautiful cemeteries I’ve ever visited are Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Va. and the Old Burying Ground in Beaufort, N.C. I also discovered a long-forgotten cemetery in North Carolina that revealed a beautiful story about Southern heritage.

Historians have noted that York County (including Adams County at the time), furnished more troops in the Continental Army under General George Washington than any other county of the 13 colonies.

A Gettysburg Memorial Day I’ll Never Forget

On an unusually warm Memorial Day years ago, we were in Gettysburg for part of the annual Memorial Day events and made a stop at the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

As we walked among the rows, we spotted a stone with my husband’s last name—in the very first row. Even more surprising, the soldier had served in a New York regiment, where my husband’s family is from. Out of thousands of graves, it felt like more than coincidence.

But the coincidences that day didn’t stop there.

Later, we made our way to Evergreen Cemetery to the gravesite of Jennie Wade, the only civilian killed during the battle. While slowly driving through the cemetery, I noticed another headstone—this time with my own last name. A Civil War veteran, marked with a flag and bronze plaque.

What made it even stranger is that I had placed flags on veterans’ graves here for more than a dozen years—but never in that section.

Later that day, after the Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade, I went home and searched my family history. The soldier at Evergreen turned out to be my great-great uncle. I also discovered that two of my ancestors had served in the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry—something no one in the family had ever passed down.

It’s a reminder that history isn’t as far away as we think. Sometimes, it’s right there waiting to be found.

A visit to Arlington Cemetery and Arlington House should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Gettysburg Memorial Day at Evergreen Cemetery

Evergreen Cemetery sits right beside the Gettysburg National Cemetery, which leads some visitors to assume it’s part of the National Park Service—but it’s actually privately owned and operated.

Established in 1854 by Gettysburg attorney David McConaughy, Evergreen reflects the Victorian rural cemetery movement, when burial grounds were designed as peaceful, park-like spaces for remembrance, reflection, and even quiet visits among beautifully landscaped grounds.

What makes Evergreen especially unique is its role in the Battle of Gettysburg. Located on Cemetery Hill, it witnessed active fighting and held a strategic position during the battle.

A Gettysburg Memorial Day isn’t complete without a stop here. With American flags placed on every veteran’s grave, it’s one of the most meaningful—and visually striking—places to visit.

One Union soldier wrote of Evergreen:

“The once beautiful Evergreen Cemetery now presents a sad appearance…the ground about our guns was literally strewed with shot and shell; a few tombstones erected over the remains of beloved relations were thrown from their position or broken into fragments; graves were turned up by ploughing shot, and tasteful railings and other ornamental work around the lots were somewhat shattered.” 

If you like old cemeteries, visit the Pon Pon Chapel of Ease.

Evergreen Cemetery Part Of Gettysburg Memorial Day

Evergreen Cemetery is still a fully functioning cemetery with open lots available for burial. (It’s truly beautiful).

The Cemetery provides walking tours of the property to point out notable historical figures buried there.

These include several Civil War soldiers, the Thorns, David McConaughy, Rev. Samuel S. Schmucker (the founder of Gettysburg College and Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary), and American poet Marianne Moore.

Another important figure buried at Evergreen Cemetery is Old John Burns of Gettysburg, who defended Gettysburg at the age of 69.

Jennie Wade, the only civilian killed during the Battle of Gettysburg, is also buried in Evergreen.

Honoring Our Heroes With Poppies

Do you know about National Poppy Day as a way of honoring our heroes?

Everyone has heard of Memorial Day, but Poppy Day is not as well known. It came about after World War I and continues to be commemorated on the Friday before Memorial Day.

The tradition began when weary soldiers brought home the memory of a stark landscape transformed by wild poppies, red as the blood that soaked the soil.

Through this miracle of nature, it seemed that the spirit of their comrades lived on. The poppy became a symbol of the sacrifice of lives in war—and the hope that they did not die in vain.

People worldwide now wear the poppy as a way to honor living veterans and those who lost their lives. The custom can be traced back to 1918 when Moina Michael popularized the idea of wearing a poppy flower in memory of the lives lost in WWI.

She drew inspiration from the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by WWI Col. John McCrae.

Related Post: I stumbled across another old cemetery in the mountains of Tennessee!

Quick Facts About Memorial Day

✔️ Memorial Day vs Veterans Day. Many people get these two days confused. On Memorial Day, the country remembers the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in defense of the country. On Veterans Day in November, all soldiers who have served the USA are honored.

✔️ More than 50 million Americans have served in the military since 1776.

✔️ On Memorial Day, the American flag is flown at half-mast until noon and then flown until sunset.

✔️ Guess what? Memorial Day is the most popular day to eat beef every year, followed by Independence Day and Labor Day, tied for second place.

✔️ A Memorial Day tradition is the “Indianapolis 500” car race.

If you plan on visiting Gettysburg, you may want to start with a self-guided tour. You may also want to check out the Best Time To Visit Gettysburg.

Decoration Day Precedes Memorial Day

Many towns claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, but according to the Library of Congress, the tradition began earlier as “Decoration Day.” One of the first observances took place in Columbus on April 25, 1866.

The roots of this solemn tradition trace back to the aftermath of the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862—one of the bloodiest battles in American history, leaving more than 23,000 soldiers dead or wounded.

Many of the injured were transported by train to nearby towns, where residents opened their homes to care for them, helping inspire a lasting tradition of remembrance.

Civil War And Decoration Day

Historic records tell a powerful story. At First Baptist Church in Columbus, carpets were torn up and used as blankets for the wounded. Nearby, at a home known as Twelve Gables, Martha “Matt” Morton laid floor mats across her dining room so injured soldiers would have a place to rest.

More than 2,000 of the soldiers brought to Columbus later died from their wounds and were buried at Friendship Cemetery, just a few blocks from Morton’s home.

A Gentle Gesture Starts a Sacred Tradition

A few years later, on April 25, 1866, Morton and her friends gathered for their weekly sewing circle and decided to decorate the graves. The older women dressed in black as a sign of mourning and rode in carriages to the cemetery, while the younger women, dressed in white, followed behind.

After placing flowers from the Twelve Gables gardens on Confederate graves, Matt Morton, Jane Fontaine, Kate Hill, and Augusta Sykes did something that shocked the nation—they also decorated the graves of 40 Union soldiers.

At a time when honoring the enemy was unheard of, their gesture stood out. But they understood something deeper: those Union soldiers were not so different from the men they had loved and lost. They were someone’s sons, husbands, brothers—men who had died serving their country.

No matter which side they fought for, they honored their memory.

A Tradition That Helped Heal a Nation

To pay respects to the enemy had been unheard of before that time. But Morton and her friends understood that the Union soldiers were not unlike the men they had loved and lost. They understood they were somebody’s sons, somebody’s husbands, somebody’s brothers, and they died serving their country.

No matter which side they fought for, they honored their memory.

Others Claim the Title Of The First Decoration Day

Many towns claim to be the birthplace of Decoration Day—the tradition that became Memorial Day.

Boalsburg points to an 1864 gathering of women mourning those lost at Gettysburg. Carbondale cites an 1866 parade led in part by John A. Logan, head of the Grand Army of the Republic, who later pushed for a national observance. Columbus credits Mary Ann Williams with calling for a yearly day to decorate soldiers’ graves.

But only one town holds official recognition. In 1966, Lyndon B. Johnson declared Waterloo the birthplace of Memorial Day, noting its long tradition of community-wide observances.

In May 1868, General Logan made it national, designating May 30 as Decoration Day—a time to honor the more than 620,000 Civil War dead by placing flowers on their graves across the country.

Picking The Right Date for Memorial Day

According to legend, Logan chose May 30 because it was a rare day that didn’t fall on the anniversary of a Civil War battle.

Some historians believe the date was selected to ensure that flowers across the country would be in full bloom.

When Logan died, his body laid in state in the rotunda of the United States Capitol, making him one of just 33 people at that time to have received the honor.

Today, Washington, D.C.’s Logan Circle and several townships across the country are named in honor of this champion of veterans and those killed in battle.

No matter where or when it began, Memorial Day offers us a sacred day to remember the sacrifices of our fallen and to honor their memory.

How Did The First Decoration Day Become Memorial Day?

Over time, “Memorial Day” replaced “Decoration Day,” and the focus expanded to honor all fallen American service members—not just those of the Civil War. After the World Wars, the name and its broader meaning became widely adopted.

Another account points to the first national observance on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery, where both Union and Confederate soldiers are buried.

For decades, the holiday remained on May 30, as originally designated by John A. Logan. But in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, shifting Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. The change took effect in 1971, when it also became an official federal holiday.

In some parts of the South, the older name—Decoration Day—is still used.

Wrap-Up Of Gettysburg Memorial Day

Whether you live in a small town like Gettysburg or a big city, and whether you call it Memorial Day or Decoration Day, I hope you pause on Memorial Day to honor our fallen.

We benefit from their sacrifices every time we exercise our constitutional rights.

These rights did not just “happen,” but were paid for by the blood of those who willingly risked their lives to protect ours, from the founding of our nation to today.

If you get a chance, shake the hand of a veteran and thank them for their service. That is a custom common on Veterans’ Day in November, but these heroes are national treasures, and we shouldn’t wait until they are gone to honor them.

Memorial Day is a time to bear witness to the selflessness described in John 15:13 “greater love has no man than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Plan Your Trip to Gettysburg for Memorial Day

Make sure you book your room ahead of time! You can find plenty of hotels, as well as Bed and Breakfasts and even camping near the Gettysburg battlefield.

Downtown Gettysburg offers lots of shopping opportunities, as well as dining establishments and bars.

And of course you’ll want to plan some tours and visit some of Gettysburg’s museums.

Compare Gettysburg Memorial Day Hotel Prices

Here are some Gettysburg hotels I recommend:

The Inn at Cemetery Hill: Located on historic ground. An easy walk to the cemetery and local attractions.

1863 Inn of Gettysburg: Also close to the cemetery. Walk to everything.

Federal Pointe Inn: Beautiful historic hotel. Close to downtown. Great reviews.

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