The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is moving its annual Father’s Day weekend events from Washington, D.C., to Alexandria, because of a planned military parade in the capital.
On Thursday, the VVMF announced that the In Memory Ceremony and Father’s Day Rose Remembrance will now take place at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial on June 14-15. These events have been held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for over 30 years, making this relocation a significant change.
The decision comes in response to a large military parade scheduled for June 14, celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. According to The Washington Post, the parade is expected to cost between $25 million and $45 million.
VVMF officials say in a statement that the parade’s setup, security measures, and cleanup make it impossible to hold their events on the National Mall as planned.
To keep the spirit of the ceremonies alive, the VVMF will set up its mobile replica of The Wall, known as The Wall That Heals, along with a replica of the In Memory Plaque and a mobile education center at the Alexandria location.
The organization says that it remains committed to conducting the ceremonies with the same respect and dignity they’ve always shown veterans and their families.
VVMF officials decided that moving the events was better than canceling them altogether, which they considered unacceptable.
For those wanting to attend both the VVMF events and the military parade, VVMF says that there will be time after the In Memory Ceremony on Saturday to travel to Washington, D.C.
Statement regarding 2025 In Memory and Father’s Day
VVMF statement regarding In Memory and Father’s Day events the weekend of June 14, 2025
Published May 15, 2025
Due to the announced military parade event in Washington, DC, on June 14, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) has decided to move its Father’s Day weekend events on June 14-15 – including the In Memory Ceremony and Father’s Day Rose Remembrance – to an alternate location.
With setup and security measures before the parade on Saturday and recovery efforts on Sunday, it will be impossible to hold these events on the National Mall as planned.
VVMF will hold both events on the grounds of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (see below) in nearby Alexandria, Va. VVMF will erect its ¾ scale mobile replica of The Wall, called The Wall That Heals, its replica of the In Memory Plaque and the mobile education center onsite for the events.
This decision was not made lightly, and in fact will be the first time these events will not be on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, since they began more than 30 years ago.
However, changing the location was the only available option other than cancelling the events altogether, which we feel is unacceptable as it would adversely affect the hundreds of families that already have paid for travel arrangements.For those who wish to attend the parade, concert and fireworks display, there will be time after the In Memory Ceremony on Saturday to make your way into Washington, DC.
VVMF remains committed to conducting the In Memory Ceremony and Father’s Day Rose Remembrance with the same level of respect and dignity that we always afford our veterans and their families. The location has changed this year, but our commitment is steadfast.
