Communities across Oregon and Southwest Washington honored fallen military service members on Monday, May 25, 2026, through statewide flag lowerings, F-15EX Eagle fighter jet flyovers, and local remembrance ceremonies.
Statewide Tributes and Governor's Proclamation
Governor Tina Kotek ordered all flags at public institutions across Oregon to fly at half-staff from 12:01 a.
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m. until noon on Monday.
"Memorial Day is a responsibility to remember the human cost of war, to honor those who never came home, and to ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten," Kotek said in a news release.
She emphasized the ongoing duty of citizens to honor historical sacrifices through everyday actions.
"May we carry forward the memory of those who served – not only in ceremony, but in action.
And may we continue building an Oregon, and a nation, worthy of the extraordinary sacrifice of those we honor today," Kotek added.
F-15EX Flyover Schedule
The annual tradition featured the debut of U. S.
Air Force F-15EX Eagles from the 142nd Wing at the Portland Air National Guard Base.
The jets flew at 400 miles per hour at an altitude of 1,000 feet over select towns.
The flights began in Washington before crossing into Oregon, passing over specific local landmarks like Fort Vancouver, Veterans Memorial Park in North Plains, and several community cemeteries.
94th Annual Ceremony at Pioneer Cemetery
Simultaneously, the American Legion Post 3 hosted its 94th annual Memorial Day ceremony at Pioneer Cemetery on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene.
The 16-acre cemetery, established in 1872, holds approximately 4,000 burials, including the largest collection of Civil War veteran graves in Lane County.
"I think it's important to remember that many Civil War soldiers were not properly buried," said James Walsh, ceremony coordinator with American Legion Post 3.
Walsh noted that early practices of decorating individual graves started in 1868 because families lacked an official military registration system to locate their missing dead.
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"There was no modern graves registration organization within the military, so I think at the end of the war there was a real appreciation of what had been lost and a desire to commemorate those who had sacrificed all, even though in many cases it wasn't known exactly where their remains were.
So, the idea of decorating individual graves came along in 1868 and it's a practice that's continued nationally to today," Walsh said.
The Eugene service took place directly in front of a monument dedicated to John Coval, a Civil War veteran who passed away in 1903.
Author C. J.
Lake revealed that Coval was believed to be unhoused at the time of his passing before his true assets were discovered.
"When he died, they found $2,000 in gold and a will," Lake said.
Lake explained that Coval left his entire fortune specifically to fund the monument and secure burial plots for fellow Union soldiers.
"And he wanted to donate it all to this statue and a plot for any future Civil War Union soldiers who had passed.
And that's why we have the ceremony there today, because we're honoring people who have served and have been part of sort of one of the great upheavals and conflicts in American history," Lake said.
Local military veterans attended the university campus event to reflect on the historical continuity of service and to support younger generations.
"I'm one of the lucky ones, I survived it," said Gregory Minckley, a Vietnam veteran with Pacific Crest Council, Scouting America.
Minckley added that while many former service members rarely publicize their military backgrounds, Memorial Day offers a crucial moment to recognize past casualties and educate youths.
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"That the gentlemen and ladies before me who passed as a result of injuries inflicted upon the war is really important for these kids, but also myself, to appreciate what it is that's going on around us now," Minckley said.
