JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON -- The Fort Richardson National Cemetery will host a Memorial Day ceremony on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 25, 2026, to honor our nation’s fallen heroes.
Ceremonial music will begin at 11:30 a.m., and the opening ceremony will begin at noon. The keynote speaker will be Verdie Bowen, director of the State of Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs, and Tony Martinez, director of the Fort Richardson and Sitka national cemeteries.
To streamline access for the public to attend this free event, the right-hand traffic lane of the Richardson Gate will be dedicated for controlled, direct access to and from the cemetery.
There will be no need to stop at the Richardson Visitor Control Center to receive a JBER visitor pass between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.; visitors going to the National Cemetery between these hours will simply enter the Richardson Gate through the right lane and be directed on a specified route to the cemetery parking areas. Those who arrive prior to 10 a.m. or after 12:15 p.m. will be directed to the Richardson VCC to obtain a visitor pass via the normal process.
Once the ceremony ends and guests complete their visit at the cemetery, they will be directed off the installation via the same route they entered.
Outside of the hours listed above, all U.S. citizens 16 or older requesting access to the cemetery should expect criminal background checks for potential disqualifying information and, upon successful screening, will be issued a visitor pass.
Non-U.S. citizens must have a Department of Defense-affiliated sponsor to escort them onto the installation and must have requested access to JBER four weeks in advance to have additional screening completed.
The direct-access process on May 25 is to and from the Fort Richardson National Cemetery and for the official Memorial Day ceremony only. Patrons found outside of the designated areas may be charged with trespassing.
Media outlets interested in covering the event must RSVP before 4 p.m., May 22, 2026, by emailing or calling jber.pa.mediaops@us.af.mil or 907-551-8995 to ensure base access and public affairs escort to the event. Those attending will be given a time and a gate location to be escorted to the event site.
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