What one-minute observance is associated with the National Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day?

The National Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day is a one-minute moment of silence.

The observance takes place at 3 p.m. local time, when Americans are encouraged to pause and remember people who died while serving in the U.S. military. Congress established the National Moment of Remembrance through the National Moment of Remembrance Act in 2000.

The initiative was proposed by Carmella LaSpada, who wanted a shared act of remembrance that could involve people regardless of where they lived or whether they attended a formal ceremony. The pause can occur at home, at work, during travel, or at public events.

It is distinct from the National Memorial Day Concert, military cemetery ceremonies, and local parades. Those events may include music, speeches, and formal rituals, while the National Moment of Remembrance is specifically centered on a brief nationwide pause.