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Calverton National Cemetery announced its 2025 Veterans Day ceremony, scheduled for Tuesday and typically attended by hundreds, has been cancelled due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
“It is with great regret that we announce that due to the ongoing federal government funding lapse, it is necessary to cancel the 2025 Veterans Day Ceremony,” cemetery officials said in a statement.
Even if the shutdown ended immediately, the cemetery wouldn’t have enough time needed to prepare the grounds and purchase the assets necessary to conduct the ceremony, the statement said.
“In the meantime, the cemetery remains open to visitors during daylight hours, and we will continue to express our heartfelt gratitude to our nation’s Veterans for their service and sacrifice every day in every way we can!”
The cancellation comes amid the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, triggered when congressional funding expired Oct. 1 and appropriations were not renewed.
The shutdown has led to disruptions in multiple federal operations, including some agency ceremonies and services. The funding lapse has forced the Federal Aviation Administration to cut air traffic by up to 10 percent at 40 major U.S. airports as early as this week, creating new delays and cancellations nationwide.
Veterans and visitors may continue to access Calverton during daylight hours.
The cemetery encouraged visitors to still honor veterans individually and said attention will shift to next year’s Memorial Day ceremony.
