Kuwait joins US Memorial Day commemorations honoring fallen American soldiers
Trump leads Memorial Day tribute as Kuwait honors sacrifices of US Military Personnel; Kuwait Ambassador to US, H.E. Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah highlights enduring Kuwait-US alliance during Memorial Day ceremony
The United States marked Memorial Day, the annual occasion honoring American military personnel killed in wars and conflicts, in ceremonies attended by US President Donald Trump, senior administration officials, and representatives from the State of Kuwait.
Observed on the last Monday of May each year, Memorial Day holds deep national significance across the United States, particularly among military families, veterans, and government institutions. Ceremonies nationwide included wreath-laying tributes, flags flown at half-mast until midday, and remembrance events dedicated to fallen servicemen and women.
Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Kuwait’s Ambassador to Washington, Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah, said the occasion serves as a moment to honor those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom.
“On this anniversary, we remember with deep appreciation those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, sacrifices that the State of Kuwait will never forget,” she stated.
The ambassador emphasized that as the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, the enduring ties between Kuwait and the United States remain rooted in pivotal historical moments and shared sacrifices, particularly the US-led coalition that liberated Kuwait in 1991.
She also noted that the upcoming opening of the National Desert Storm War Memorial this fall will further commemorate those who stood alongside Kuwait during one of the most defining chapters in its history.
The main Memorial Day ceremony traditionally takes place at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., where the US president lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in tribute to fallen military personnel.
Kuwait has consistently participated in Memorial Day commemorations held along Constitution Avenue, the symbolic avenue connecting the White House and the US Congress, with members of the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington attending the annual observances.
According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration, Memorial Day was originally known as “Decoration Day,” emerging after the American Civil War when citizens decorated soldiers’ graves with flowers and flags in remembrance of the war dead.
Congress officially recognized Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1966, before designating the last Monday of May as a federal holiday beginning in 1971.
The US National Archives notes that while Memorial Day commemorates those who died during military service, Veterans Day in November honors all Americans who have served in the armed forces, whether living or deceased.
