Memorial Day in Portland, Oregon

The American federal holiday Memorial Day is celebrated annually in the city of Portland, Oregon. Several sites host memorial services, including the Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Willamette National Cemetery. Memorial Day is the only time the Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral Home and grounds are open to the public. City of Portland offices close on Memorial Day.[1] The holiday impacts local public transport and parking enforcement.

Events and activities

Memorial Day weekend usually kicks off the annual Portland Rose Festival.[2] The Multnomah County Fair is usually held at Oaks Amusement Park on the holiday weekend.[3] Activities include entertainment, Hispanic dance, music, and singing, as well as a low-rider auto show and Dachshund racing.[4][5] The Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral Home and grounds in southeast Portland's Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood are only open to the public on Memorial Day.[6] In 2024, dozens of veterans and supporters participated in Do Good Multnomah's Memorial Day Ruck March, which served as a fundraiser to provide services to veterans experiencing homelessness. The route path started and ended at the University of Portland.[7]

For decades, the Hawthorne Boulevard Business Association and a local scout troop have placed American flags along Hawthorne Boulevard in southeast Portland. In 2023, the Southeast Examiner said, "In recent years, the flags have been vandalized or stolen and last year the two groups made the decision to suspend placement. They hope the resumption of this tradition will be a reminder about what the flag represents–a dedication to democracy, equality and freedom for people to be who they are and want to be."[8]

Memorial services

Since 1950,[9] the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has hosted the region's largest annual commemoration at Willamette National Cemetery.[10][11] Each year, scout troops place tens of thousands of flags ahead of the holiday; in 2010, approximately 1,000 people placed 140,000 flags.[12][13][14] More than 2,500 people were expected to attend in 2018.[15][16] The program for the 2018 ceremony included a 21-shot cannon salute by the 218th Field Artillery of the Oregon National Guard, a benediction, and a performance by the 173rd Fighter Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard.[9] The 2022 ceremony had speeches, the playing of Taps, a rifle salute, and music performed by the 234th Army Band and the Portland Police Highland Guard Pipe Band.[17] Approximately 100 people attended.[18] In 2024, hundreds of people placed flags at the site and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden spoke at the ceremony.[19] In 2025, hundreds attended and the flag-laying ceremony started with a fly-over by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter.[20][21] The site was also along a fly-over path with F-15 Eagle fighter jets with the 142nd Wing out of the Portland Air National Guard Base in 2019 and each year from 2022 to 2025.[17][22][23][24] The 2020 and 2021 services were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[25][26]

The Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington Park has hosted memorial services since 1988.[23] The program for the 2024 ceremony included bagpipe music, an invocation, speakers, and a 21-gun volley,[27] and the 2025 ceremony included a fly-over by the West Coast Ravens, a posting of the colors, and the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner".[23]

Services have also been held at Lincoln Memorial Park.[28]

Public transport and services

Local public transport is impacted by the holiday; in 2025, TriMet buses and MAX Light Rail service followed a weekend schedule on Memorial Day, and the Portland Aerial Tram did not operate on the holiday. With some exceptions, parking meters are not enforced on Memorial Day.[1][29]

References

  1. ^ a b Stein, Rosemarie (May 20, 2025). "Memorial Day 2025: Events, ceremonies, what government offices, services are open/closed". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on July 21, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  2. ^ Stein, Rosemarie (May 15, 2023). "Summer Guide 2023: More than 50 Oregon fairs, festivals, rodeos, and fun to enjoy this summer". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on April 6, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2026. Portland Rose Festival: Although Rose Festival officially kicks off on Memorial Day weekend, many of the most popular events take place in June including the Starlight Parade (June 3), Fred Meyer Jr. Parade (June 7), and Grand Floral Parade (June 10).
  3. ^ Multnomah County Fair:
  4. ^ Stein, Rosemarie (May 24, 2023). "Oregon Memorial Day 2023: Ceremonies, parades, events, as well as government holiday closures". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  5. ^ "8 Things To Do in Portland on Memorial Day Weekend (including paying respects)". Portland Tribune. May 26, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  6. ^ Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral Home:
  7. ^ Hale, Jamie (May 27, 2024). "Rucking for a cause: Memorial Day Ruck March supports unhoused vets in Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  8. ^ "American Flags Placed on Hawthorne Blvd". Southeast Examiner. Archived from the original on September 9, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  9. ^ a b "Memorial Day 2018: Willamette National Cemetery events impacted by construction (map)". The Oregonian. May 25, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  10. ^ "Things to do in Portland for Memorial Day weekend". KOIN. May 24, 2024. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  11. ^ Redden, Jim (May 25, 2025). "Honor the military fallen at local Memorial Day events". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  12. ^ "Scouts place flags in Willamette National Cemetery". The Columbian. December 31, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  13. ^ "Happy Valley family places thousands of flags at military graves for Memorial Day". KGW. May 25, 2020. Archived from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2026. Traditionally, the Boy Scouts place nearly 140,000 flags at Willamette National Cemetery each Memorial Day, but that practice was canceled this year due to COVID-19 concerns.
  14. ^ "Memorial Day ceremonies slated throughout metro area". Portland Tribune. May 28, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2026. Memorial Day service at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 S.E. Mt. Scott Blvd., honors all members of the armed services. Graves of all military personnel buried in the cemetery are decorated with American flags, planted annually by scouts in the Thunderbird District of the Boy Scouts of America Cascade Council.
  15. ^ "Memorial Day services and events in Oregon". KGW. May 28, 2018. Archived from the original on May 28, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  16. ^ Bynum, Nate (May 25, 2018). "Scouts place thousands of flags at Willamette National Cemetery for Memorial Day". KATU. Archived from the original on June 30, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  17. ^ a b "Wreath-laying ceremony at Willamette National Cemetery set for Memorial Day". KOIN. May 29, 2022. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  18. ^ Johnson, Destiny (May 30, 2022). "Dozens gather at Portland's Willamette National Cemetery to honor veterans, fallen service members". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  19. ^ Todd, Tatum (May 25, 2024). "Hundreds of people place flags at Willamette National Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  20. ^ Burke, Darryl (May 26, 2025). "Hundreds gather to honor fallen heroes at Willamette National Cemetery". KATU. Archived from the original on July 21, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  21. ^ "'Touches your heart': Willamette National Cemetery hosts annual Memorial Day flag-laying ceremony". KOIN. Archived from the original on July 22, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  22. ^ 2024:
  23. ^ a b c "Memorial Day ceremonies and events across the Portland metro area". KGW. May 26, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  24. ^ 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025:
  25. ^ Hallman Jr, Tom (May 24, 2020). "During a time of loss, fear and uncertainty, a very different Memorial Day is planned at Willamette National Cemetery". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  26. ^ "Military who've given their lives honored at Willamette National Cemetery". East PDX News. Archived from the original on November 12, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  27. ^ Stein, Rosemarie (May 21, 2024). "Memorial Day 2024: Ceremonies, parades, events, and closures in Oregon, SW Washington". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on July 24, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  28. ^ Hallman Jr, Tom (May 30, 2021). "In a forgotten section of a Portland cemetery, volunteers honor the fallen for Memorial Day". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  29. ^ Stein, Rosemarie (May 26, 2025). "Memorial Day 2025: Is Portland street parking free Monday?". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on July 21, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
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