The PBS 2024 National Memorial Day Concert

America’s national night of remembrance, PBS’ National Memorial Day concert, returns live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for a special 35th anniversary broadcast. A tradition unlike anything else on television, the 90-minute broadcast the National Memorial Day concert takes us back to the real meaning of the holiday through a unique blend of dramatic storytelling, documentary footage and uplifting music. Hosted by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise, both steadfast champions of Veterans’ causes and active service members, the National Memorial Day concert will air on PBS and stream nationwide on the PBS website at www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert and YouTube on Sunday, May 26, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. E.T.

The the National Memorial Day concert will feature the following segments:

• World War II Tribute, featuring Academy Award nominee and Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG, Tony and Olivier Award winner Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the Middle). This tribute is a salute to the millions of Americans who served the nation in World War II in uniform and on the home front. On the 80th anniversary of 1944, a pivotal year in the war, the tribute will commemorate hard fought battles in the Pacific and European theaters that secured the allied path to victory. As part of this special segment, the concert will share the story of U.S. Army Veteran John T. “Jack” Moran, a soldier in the Battle of the Bulge, and his poignant remembrance of friends who fought to save the world from tyranny but, tragically, did not make it home. Members of this Greatest Generation will be honored on stage at the United States Capitol.
• Honoring Gold Star Families with Emmy nominated and Tony Award-winning actor and director BD Wong (Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, Jurassic Park). The concert will remember our fallen heroes and Gold Star families with the story of Vietnam Veteran and Gold Star Father Allen Hoe, who followed generations of his proud warrior family, serving as a combat medic in 1967-68. Facing the tragic loss of battle buddies, Hoe returned to comfort their families. His own two sons continued the family legacy, serving honorably in the U.S. Army and First Lieutenant Nainoa Hoe was killed in combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom. This is a story of honor and remembrance, the search for peace and a chance meeting at the Vietnam Memorial Wall.
• Honoring a Generation’s Service with Golden Globe and SAG Award-nominated actress Jena Malone (Love Lies Bleeding, The Hunger Games) and Tony Award-nominated star of stage and screen Mary McCormack (Heels, West Wing). Following 20 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the concert will explore the challenges faced by a generation of wounded, ill and injured Veterans who carry visible and invisible wounds of war and share the profound story of U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and amputee Kirstie Ennis, an inspiring adaptive athlete who carries with her the memory of her fallen brothers and sisters in arms. Ennis has dedicated her life to bringing awareness to our military heroes and encouraging those who are hurting to reach out for help.

This inspiring night of remembrance will also feature performances by: Tony, Emmy, and Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominee, Cynthia Erivo; eleven-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson, who served eight years in the Marine Corps Reserve; ACM Award-winning, multi-platinum-selling country music icon Gary LeVox (Rascal Flatts); Tony Award-winning Broadway and TV star Ruthie Ann Miles; Grammy and Tony Award-winning Broadway, film and TV star Patina Miller; and the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly, celebrating fifteen seasons with the concert.  

In tribute to all the members of our armed forces, the annual audience favorite Salute to Services features the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Service Color Teams. Also participating are members from The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Chorus, The Soldiers’ Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, and the Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.

The National Memorial Day concert airs on PBS Sunday, May 26, 2024, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. E.T., as well as to our troops serving around the world on American Forces Network. The concert will also be streaming online at www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert and YouTube and available as Video on Demand, May 26 to June 9, 2024.