How to Watch the National Memorial Day Parade

The National Memorial Day Parade has quickly become a tradition in the nation's capital, having only been made an annual event in 2005. Hundreds of thousands of people turn up to watch the parade and to honor the sacrifices of America's Armed Forces in conflicts ranging from the American Revolution through the present.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Decide how you plan to get to Washington, D.C. if you are traveling from outside of the city. Traveling in Washington, D.C. on and around Memorial Day can be challenging by car because of street closures and traffic. Traveling by public transportation is highly recommended.
2. Check the weather to determine how to dress appropriately. Memorial Day weekend in Washington, D.C. is usually warm, dry and pleasant, but the temperature and weather conditions have been known to be unseasonably high or low on occasion and rain is always possible.
3. Travel to downtown Washington, D.C. for the National Memorial Day Parade. The parade travels down Constitution Avenue in front of the National Mall. It usually starts at 2 p.m., but it's advisable to arrive early to get a good spot and to navigate the crowds that gather to watch the parade.
4. Choose a viewing spot along the parade route. The parade ends in the National Mall, and this is always a popular place to gather and watch.
5. Watch the hundreds of groups, bands, and floats make their way down the parade route. The National Memorial Day Parade has a diverse range of participants from youth groups to retired military units.

Tips & Warnings

• If you live in the DC Metro area, you can watch the National Memorial Day Parade on television through the local affiliate channels.
• Armed services people and Americans living overseas can watch the parade on the Pentagon channel.
• Take the Metro train to avoid nightmare D.C. traffic on Memorial Day. There are several stops along the parade route you can choose from.
• Take the opportunity to visit some of the historic monuments and memorials on when you travel to the city for the parade. Veterans' memorials such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the World War II Memorial are great places to pay your respects on a holiday that pays tribute to American men and women in uniform.
• Wear sunblock when parade watching on a sunny day. Watching a parade usually exposes you directly to damaging sun rays, and there may be little or no sun protection along the parade route.