The City of Gaithersburg will honor fallen service members during its annual Memorial Day Observance on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 11am at Christman Park (304 West Deer Park Rd.).
The public is invited to join the Mayor and City Council, Junior Mayor Hemachandra Mulugu, City staff, and honored guests for the ceremony recognizing those who gave their lives in military service.
The observance will feature patriotic music, remarks commemorating the holiday, and a wreath-laying ceremony. Cub Scout Pack 464 will present the colors, Greta-Lee Dobie will perform the national anthem, and Gaithersburg High School Band member Ben Bringhurst will perform “Taps.”
Attendees will also have the opportunity to contribute to a Book of Tribute honoring family members and friends who have served in the military by submitting a card and 4×6 photograph during the event.
Christman Park, located at 304 W. Deer Park Rd., is named after Marine 2nd Lt. William J. Christman III, a Gaithersburg resident who was killed during the Vietnam War.
The City also announced the return of Flags for Our Heroes, a large display of American flags on the lawn at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm from Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25.
A formal opening ceremony for the display will be held Saturday, May 23 at 11am, followed by a flag retirement ceremony on Sunday, May 24 at 6:30pm.
The display allows individuals and organizations to sponsor flags in honor of personal “heroes.” Flags for Our Heroes is organized by the Rotary Clubs of Gaithersburg and Historic Emory Grove and hosted by the City of Gaithersburg.
Per the City of Gaithersburg: “
Joining the May 30 observance is guest speaker Capt. Jordan A. Sealey. Capt. Sealey enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2014 as a Horizontal Construction Engineer. He was assigned to the 689th Route Clearance Company, while simultaneously contracting with the Florida A&M Army ROTC Battalion. He graduated from Florida A&M University in 2019 and reported to Fort Knox to serve as an instructor for Cadet Command.
Capt. Sealey previously served in the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Riley, Kansas, and later as the regimental current operations officer for the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), supporting major missions across the National Capital Region, including the 2024 NATO Summit and the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter. He has been selected to serve as the Commanding General’s aide‑de‑camp and will continue to serve for MDW/JTF‑NCR.”
