The Department of Veterans Affairs will host Memorial Day ceremonies at more than 130 cemeteries across the country to honor the service members who lost their lives defending the United States.

These events will include wreath-laying ceremonies, commemorative speeches, music, a moment of silence, and the playing of Taps.

“This Memorial Day weekend, we encourage Veterans and all Americans to join us as we remember and honor our nation’s fallen heroes,” Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said. “We are forever indebted to the service members who gave their lives in service to our country, and we will never forget their sacrifice.”

McDonough will speak at the ceremony at New York State Veterans Cemetery Finger Lakes on Monday. The community there is commonly recognized as the birthplace of Memorial Day.

Veterans Affairs chief of staff Kimberly Jackson will speak at Wood National Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Monday, while Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Tanya Bradsher will speak at the Baltimore National Cemetery on May 30.

Undersecretary for Memorial Affairs Matt Quinn said, “We can never underestimate or under-appreciate the sacrifice made by the brave men and women who died in service to the country,” according to Military.com. “Likewise, it is our duty to show appreciation to our Gold Star family members. We can never repay them for their sacrifices.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

If veterans or their loved ones can’t visit one of these cemeteries, they can honor the memory of slain service members by leaving a tribute on the VA’s Veterans Legacy Memorial website.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Approximately 16 million Americans served in the armed forces during World War II, though approximately 100,000 veterans from it are still living.