Virginia Beach honors fallen at Memorial Day ceremony; mayor issues proclamation, Brig. Gen. Jumper reflects on duty
May 25, 2026 | VA BEACH CITY PBLC SCHS, School Districts, Virginia
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On May 25, 2026, the City of Virginia Beach held a Memorial Day ceremony at the convention center honoring service members who died in defense of the nation. The program included prayers, musical tributes, wreath layers from veteran and civic organizations, a mayoral proclamation and a keynote reflection by Brig. Gen. Katherine M. Jumper, Assistant Adjutant General for Air, Virginia National Guard.
The event opened with an emcee’s welcome and recognition of visiting officials, including U.S. Representative Jen Kaggins, State Delegate Michael Fagans, and former Rep. Elaine Luria. The emcee noted organizers moved the ceremony indoors because of weather and that the planned 21-gun salute and flyover would not occur; flags at the Tidewater Veterans Memorial were to be raised to full staff during the program.
Mayor Bobby Dyer read a proclamation declaring May 25, 2026 Tidewater Veterans Memorial Day, recounting the memorial’s origin and design and noting it was dedicated in 1988. The proclamation also stated the city hosts more than 96,000 active-duty military personnel. In presenting the proclamation, Mayor Dyer called on citizens to remember those who served.
Brigadier General Katherine M. Jumper delivered a reflection on service and sacrifice, urging the audience to remember the obligations that accompany liberty. "Memorial Day asks something of us," Jumper said. She used the story of a Revolutionary War soldier’s knapsack to illustrate continuity of duty across generations and praised the quiet, daily acts of citizenship that sustain the republic.
Earlier in the program the presenter honored Lt. Col. Brandon Shaw of Old Dominion University, summarizing his military service and noting statements reported by the FBI that Shaw acted "without hesitation" when an attacker entered a classroom in March. The program included musical performances—Tony Zontini sang the national anthem and later led "God Bless America"—and an Armed Forces medley honoring each military branch.
Virgil Hart of the Mayor's Committee for Veterans described the memorial’s paver dedication program and named several paver honorees; application information was made available on the city website. The ceremony closed with a benediction from David Yemington, chaplain of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 969, Taps from the music unit and final remarks thanking volunteers and attendees.
The ceremony concluded without formal votes or policy actions; organizers said flags at the Tidewater Veterans Memorial would be raised to full staff and the public can find memorial paver application details on the City of Virginia Beach website.
The event opened with an emcee’s welcome and recognition of visiting officials, including U.S. Representative Jen Kaggins, State Delegate Michael Fagans, and former Rep. Elaine Luria. The emcee noted organizers moved the ceremony indoors because of weather and that the planned 21-gun salute and flyover would not occur; flags at the Tidewater Veterans Memorial were to be raised to full staff during the program.
Mayor Bobby Dyer read a proclamation declaring May 25, 2026 Tidewater Veterans Memorial Day, recounting the memorial’s origin and design and noting it was dedicated in 1988. The proclamation also stated the city hosts more than 96,000 active-duty military personnel. In presenting the proclamation, Mayor Dyer called on citizens to remember those who served.
Brigadier General Katherine M. Jumper delivered a reflection on service and sacrifice, urging the audience to remember the obligations that accompany liberty. "Memorial Day asks something of us," Jumper said. She used the story of a Revolutionary War soldier’s knapsack to illustrate continuity of duty across generations and praised the quiet, daily acts of citizenship that sustain the republic.
Earlier in the program the presenter honored Lt. Col. Brandon Shaw of Old Dominion University, summarizing his military service and noting statements reported by the FBI that Shaw acted "without hesitation" when an attacker entered a classroom in March. The program included musical performances—Tony Zontini sang the national anthem and later led "God Bless America"—and an Armed Forces medley honoring each military branch.
Virgil Hart of the Mayor's Committee for Veterans described the memorial’s paver dedication program and named several paver honorees; application information was made available on the city website. The ceremony closed with a benediction from David Yemington, chaplain of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 969, Taps from the music unit and final remarks thanking volunteers and attendees.
The ceremony concluded without formal votes or policy actions; organizers said flags at the Tidewater Veterans Memorial would be raised to full staff and the public can find memorial paver application details on the City of Virginia Beach website.
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