Photos

Walter Furuyama, left, and Clifford Chillingworth, both Korean War veterans, lay a wreath in honor of the missing during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony hosted by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Sept. 15, 2023. Over 300 service members, former prisoners of war, families and veterans attended the ceremony to commemorate those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. More than 7,500 U.S. service members remain unaccounted for from previous conflicts.

Fireworks explode over Lake Ogawara during Lights on the Lake, a Labor Day event, at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Sept. 1, 2023.

A color guard parades the colors during a September 11 pentagon staff memorial observance in the courtyard at the Pentagon, Sept. 8, 2023.

Airmen conducted a CV-22 flyover to celebrate Independence Day in Albuquerque, N.M., July 3, 2023.

Fireworks explode behind an Air Force C-130J Super Hercules during Celebrate America, an Independence Day event, at Yokota Air Base, Japan, July 3, 2023.

Air Force airmen and Space Force guardians compete in the Color Run to support Pride Month at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., June 2, 2023. During Pride Month, the Defense Department honors the service, commitment and sacrifice of LGBTQ+ service members and personnel who volunteer to defend our country.

U.S. and allied forces, World War II veterans and guests participate in the Cabbage Patch Memorial Ceremony in Carentan, France, June 2, 2023. The Cabbage Patch Square is where 79 years ago, U.S. paratroopers began the bloody, close combat battle to liberate the city of Carentan.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Knight places a flag on a grave at the Jacksonville National Cemetery in Jacksonville, Fla., May 25, 2022. Service members and civilians gathered to place thousands of American flags in observance of Memorial Day.

Navy Petty Officers 2nd Class Robert Harley, left, Justin Knight, front right, and Tania Banks place flags at a cemetery in Jacksonville, Fla., May 25, 2023, in preparation for Memorial Day.

Charles Alexander Jr., superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery, hangs U.S. flags in the Memorial Amphitheater in preparation for Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 22, 2023.

Marines visited various museums and monuments in Normandy, France, May 25, 2022. This visit was to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their respective countries during World War II.

An Arlington National Cemetery employee hangs American flags in the Memorial Amphitheater in preparation for Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 23, 2022.

Soldiers perform a Haka dance, a battle preparation in the Maori culture, during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Fort Lee, Va., May 19, 2022.

Color guard members present the flags during the 53rd Annual Explosive Ordnance Disposal Memorial ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 7, 2022. Names of fallen EOD technicians are added to the memorial wall and flags presented to their families during a ceremony each year.

A World War II veteran shows his French Legion of Honor medal during an event to mark the 80th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Oahu in Honolulu, Dec. 7, 2021.

World War II veteran Gil Nadeau observes the USS Arizona Memorial during a tour to mark the 80th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Oahu, in Hawaii, Dec. 7, 2021.

Vincent Goesahead Jr. of the Crow Nation performs with a smudge pot during the opening ceremony for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration Public Flower Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Nov. 9, 2021.

Visitors participate in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration Public Flower Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Nov. 9, 2021.

Soldiers assigned to “The Old Guard” 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment’s Caisson Platoon and an Armed Forces Body Bearer team honor Army Gen. Colin Powell during his special military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Nov. 5, 2021.

Air Force Capt. Heather Prentice prepares to release a lantern during the Air Force Families Forever Fallen Hero Sky Lantern Lighting on the beach in Biloxi, Miss., Sept. 24, 2021.