DEFENDER is the Army’s largest annual opportunity to exercise moving personnel and equipment into theater across modes for initial and follow-on operations critical to Large Scale Combat Operations. Led by U.S. Army Europe and Africa, the exercise focuses on the strategic deployment of CONUS-based forces, employment of Army Prepositioned Stock and follow-on exercises demonstrating lethality and interoperability with Allies and partners

DEFENDER 25 Outreach tour
DEFENDER 25 Infographic

Videos
Video by Vincent Pecoraro
Flowers of Remembrance Day Interviews
Arlington National Cemetery
May 16, 2023 | 2:52
Interviews with Col. Michael Binetti (Chief of Staff, Arlington National Cemetery) and Bob Quackenbush (Deputy Chief of Staff, Arlington National Cemetery) regarding Flowers of Remembrance Day 2023 at Arlington National Cemetery.

Flowers of Remembrance Day will be held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Sunday, May 28, 2023, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Members of the public are invited to place a flower at the Tomb. Flowers will be provided by the Memorial Day Flowers Foundation, and visitors should not bring their own flowers. During this event, visitors will also have an opportunity to place a flower on headstones throughout the cemetery.

Flowers of Remembrance Day pays homage to the nation’s first official Decoration
Day, now known as Memorial Day. This ceremony first took place at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1868, to honor U.S. service members who died in the Civil War.

At 10 a.m. in the outdoor bowl of the Memorial Amphitheater, ANC historians will offer a public program on the history of Decoration Day/Memorial Day, this holiday's importance to ANC and its connections to the Flowers of Remembrance Day event. After the 10 a.m. talk, they will lead an optional, supplemental walking tour to the James Tanner Amphitheater, the Tomb of the Civil War Unknowns and other locations related to the official Decoration Day commemoration at ANC. No registration is necessary for participation. 

For the latest updates on Flowers of Remembrance Day, please follow our social media platforms @arlingtonnatl.
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enlightenedTo find information about filing a claim related to exercise DEFENDER activities, visit Claims Information and select your country.