PBS has traditionally broadcast the National Memorial Day Concert from Washington, D.C.
The National Memorial Day Concert is an annual live event held on the west lawn of the United States Capitol. It combines orchestral music, military bands, dramatic readings, filmed segments, and personal stories honoring American service members who died in military service. The Public Broadcasting Service, commonly known as PBS, has been the concert’s principal national television broadcaster.
The event began in 1989 and has become one of the most prominent Memorial Day broadcasts in the United States. The program is presented near the Capitol before the holiday and is designed for a national audience, rather than being limited to people attending in Washington.
PBS is sometimes confused with the concert’s production partners or with individual performers. The network broadcasts the program, while the National Symphony Orchestra and other invited musicians, actors, and military ensembles contribute to the performance. Broadcast arrangements can vary by year, but PBS is the traditional network associated with it.