Plot Synopsis

Held annually since 1990 on the eve of Memorial Day, the NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT is a free event on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol that honors America's military personnel, their families and all those who have given their lives for our country. Each event features music from the National Symphony Orchestra, with special performances by music superstars. The event aired live each year, except in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the West Lawn concert to be cancelled; instead, PBS aired a virtual program with remote performances and appearances, as well as tributes to members of the military, veterans and front-line workers.
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Hosted by Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise, the 2024 NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT premiered on Sunday, May 26, 2024 from 8-9:30pm ET on PBS (check local listings), at pbs.org and on YouTube. Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the 90-minute broadcast honors the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, military families and all those who have given their lives for our country.

The night features performances by: Tony, Emmy, and Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominee, Cynthia Erivo; ACM Award-winning, multi-platinum-selling country music icon Gary LeVox of RASCAL FLATTS; 11-time Grammy-nominated country music singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson, who served eight years in the Marine Corps Reserve; Tony Award-nominated star of stage and screen Mary McCormack (HEELS, WEST WING); Tony Award-winning Broadway and TV star Ruthie Ann Miles (SWEENEY TODD, THE KING AND I, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE); Grammy and Tony Award-winning Broadway, film and TV star Patina Miller (THE HUNGER GAMES, MADAM SECRETARY, POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN); 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 2024 NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT also features the following segments:

- World War II Tribute, featuring Academy Award nominee, and Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG, Tony and Olivier Award winner Bryan Cranston (ARGYLLE, BREAKING BAD, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE). 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 remembrance of friends who fought alongside him to save the world from tyranny. Members of this Greatest Generation will be honored on stage at the United States Capitol.

- Gold Star Families Remembrance with Emmy-nominated and Tony Award-winning actor and director BD Wong (LAW & ORDER: SVU, JURASSIC PARK franchise). 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 into military service. Hoe's two sons continued the family legacy serving honorably in the U.S. Army, and First Lieutenant Nainoa K. Hoe was tragically killed in combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom. This is a story of honor and remembrance, the search for peace after his son's death, and a chance meeting at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

- Honoring a Generation's Service with Golden Globe and SAG Award-nominated actress Jena Malone (LOVE LIES BLEEDING, THE HUNGER GAMES). 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 through the moving 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. The concert will share her journey after a life-changing injury on deployment, and her mission to bring awareness and encourage others to reach out for help.