Update on COVID-19
Updated April 30, 2021
The interior buildings of the Virginia War Memorial are reopen to the public and no reservations are required. We kindly ask all visitors wear protective face coverings and comply with social distancing requirements.
MEMORIAL DAY
Please check back before you depart for the event. This information is subject to change based on weather and/or health protocols:
IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE:
Virginia’s Annual Memorial Day Ceremony, held at the Virginia War Memorial in the E. Bruce Heilman Amphitheater every year, is one of our most popular and well attended programs. Due to the changes in State guidance, a small audience will be able to attend.
To help ensure the safety of our visitors and stay within State guidelines for outdoor events, we kindly ask you to submit the Memorial Day Registration Form HERE, providing contact information and the number of anticipated attendees.
Weather decisions will be made no later than May 28. If the event is moved indoors, it will not be open to the public, and we will be limited to our special guests and essential personnel. We then encourage everyone to “virtually” attend the event here on this page, live on CBS 6, or on our Facebook page.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support to our Veterans and the Virginia War Memorial.
(See below for past COVID-19 related updates and event information.)
EVENT UPDATES:
During the time of social distancing restrictions, we will be continuing all online programming. Please check our EVENTS PAGE for the current event and livestream schedule.
UPDATE (01/22/2021): The interior buildings of the Virginia War Memorial are reopen to the public beginning Monday, January 25. We kindly ask all visitors wear protective face coverings and comply with social distancing requirements.
UPDATE (06/18/20): While the exterior areas of the Virginia War Memorial, including the Shrine of Memory, have remained open for visitation subject to social distancing restrictions, all interior portions of the Memorial have been closed to the public since March. On Monday, June 29, the Galanti Center and the C. Kenneth Wright Pavilion will reopen on June 29 during normal visiting hours. No guided tours will be given during this reopening period.
For the health and safety of visitors, no more than fifty visitors will be allowed inside the Memorial at one time. Face masks and social distancing will be required. All in-person tour groups, field trips, programs, and events will continue to be suspended until deemed safe to host on site.
UPDATE (3/30/20): In keeping with the temporary stay at home directive (in Executive Order 55) given by Governor Northam, the Virginia War Memorial’s exterior spaces will remain open during daylight hours to allow individuals to engage in outdoor activity, provided they comply with social distancing requirements. We ask that all visitors please practice these requirements as they enjoy the Memorial’s outdoor space for reflection on our nation’s ability to overcome difficult times. We will be updating this page as well as social media sites as we have more information.
UPDATE (3/26/2020): Until further notice, the Virginia War Memorial will be closed until April 30, 2020, and we will continue to reassess our plans based on evolving recommendations provided by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
UPDATE (3/16/2020): Like many of you, the Virginia War Memorial Foundation alongside the Department of Veterans Services has been monitoring the public health situation regarding the coronavirus and its impact on the Commonwealth. Ensuring the health and safety of visitors, volunteers, and staffers is our highest priority. To help reduce the spread of COVID-19 we are implementing the following procedures, effective immediately and until further notice:
1. The interior of the Memorial will be closed to visitors. This includes the Galanti Center, the Wright Pavilion, and the underground portion of the parking deck.
2. No school groups, group tours, programs, or public events will take place until further notice.
3. The exterior of the Memorial will remain open to visitors during regular hours, including the Shrine of Memory – 20th Century and the Shrine of Memory – Global War on Terrorism & Beyond.
4. Limited parking will be available in the 1st Street surface lot and in the ADA spots in front of the Memorial.
To keep up-to-date on further alerts and information from the War Memorial Foundation, CLICK HERE to receive our emails. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work together to protect the health and safety of our community.