Memorial Day 2019 Arlington National Cemetery Ceremony: Info

It's the unofficial start to summer, as well as a chance to honor the fallen heroes of the U.S. military. That means there are a lot of events going on in the D.C. region. Here's info on the main event in Arlington:

WHAT: The Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony and Concert

WHEN: 11 a.m. Monday, May 27

WHERE: Arlington National Cemetery, 214 McNair Road

ADMISSION: Free and open to the public

MORE INFORMATION: From the Arlington National Cemetery's official website: "About 5,000 visitors attend each of the two major annual remembrance ceremonies in the Memorial Amphitheater. They take place on Memorial Day and Veterans Day and are sponsored by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington."

There will also be a wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery. Wreath-layings are very solemn recognitions of sacrifice by the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, making this an ideal event to honor those who have fallen in battle since the founding of the United States.

"The most solemn of these occur on state occasions where the president or his designee lays a wreath to mark the national observance of Memorial Day, Veterans Day or some other special occasion," states the website. "As a general rule, these take place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, attended by ceremonial units from the uniformed services.

"Also marked by a high degree of ritual and joint service participation are wreath layings that occur during state visits," it adds. "A visiting head of state will pay formal respects to the sacrifice of America's veterans in foreign wars by placing a wreath before the Tomb. Similarly, other foreign ministers may also include a wreath laying here as part of their official itineraries."

You also have the option of attending the National Memorial Day Parade in D.C.

The parade -- which takes place at 2 p.m., so you may have time to get from the Arlington event to the National Mall before crowds get too heavy -- is held each year along Constitution Avenue. The event "shares the story of American honor and sacrifice from across the generations," according to the website for the American Veterans Center, which sponsors the evnet. This is the 15th year of the parade and it is the nation's largest Memorial Day event, drawing hundreds of thousands to "pay tribute to those who have served, are serving, and more importantly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country."