Memorial Day Weekend 2025: Parades, Services On Long Island

LONG ISLAND, NY — Across Long Island, residents and visitors alike will pay tribute to the fallen on Memorial Day Monday.

Here's a roundup of where parades and services will be held:

SUFFOLK COUNTY

SOUTH FORK

Memorial Day 2025: Parades, Tributes On The South Fork

RIVERHEAD

Memorial Day 2025: How To Pay Tribute In Riverhead

NORTH FORK

Memorial Day 2025: Annual Parade Kicks Off In Southold Monday

Memorial Day Scout Parade Gives Heartfelt Thanks In Greenport Monday.

FARMINGDALE

2025 Farmingdale Memorial Day Parade Preview

HUNTINGTON

Memorial Weekend Carnival, Parades: Huntington-Area 2025 Memorial Day Events

NORTHPORT

Memorial Weekend Carnival, Parades: Northport-Area Memorial Day Events

SMITHTOWN

Smithtown 2025 Memorial Day Parade Preview

ISLIP

Memorial Day Weekend 2025: Events And Parades Around Islip

BLUE POINT

Memorial Day Weekend 2025: Events And Parades Around Blue Point

BAY SHORE

Memorial Day Weekend 2025: Events And Parades Around Bay Shore

LINDENHURST

Memorial Day Weekend 2025: Events And Parades Around Lindenhurst

NORTH BABYLON

Memorial Day Weekend 2025: Events And Parades Around North Babylon

DEER PARK

Memorial Day Weekend 2025: Events And Parades Around Deer Park

NASSAU COUNTY

GARDEN CITY

Memorial Day Weekend 2024: Events And Parades Around Garden City

ROCKVILLE CENTRE

Memorial Day Weekend 2024: Events And Parades Around Rockville Centre

NEW HYDE PARK

Memorial Day Weekend 2025: Events And Parades Around New Hyde Park

LONG BEACH

Memorial Day Weekend 2025: Events And Parades Around Long Beach

WANTAGH

Memorial Day Weekend 2025: Events And Parades Around Wantagh

The history of Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, dates back to 1868, when Gen. John A. Logan called for a day of remembrance to honor the Northern lives lost amid battle during the Civil War that had ended just a few years earlier, according to History.com. As time passed, more and more people called it Memorial Day, and it became a federal holiday in 1971.

Waterloo, New York, is considered the birthplace of Memorial Day. The town’s observance on May 5, 1866, predated Logan’s call for a day of remembrance. Local businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and flags.

Until World War I, the holiday honored only those soldiers who died while fighting for the Union in the War, as Southern states honored their war dead on a separate day. After the 116,000-plus American deaths in World War I, the tradition changed to remember all who have died while serving in the military.

Every year, a national moment of remembrance is held at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. No matter where they are or what they’re doing, Americans are asked to pause for one minute in silence to remember military personnel who have given their lives in service to their country. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the midday time was chosen because it’s a time when many Americans will be enjoying their freedoms on a national holiday.