For the second year in a row, the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona will be closing its Memorial Day service to the public.
The closed ceremony follows a trend of scaled-back Memorial Day services in federally-managed cemeteries across the country.
Jerry Nowdomski of the National Memorial Cemetery, located near Pinnacle Peak and Cave Creek roads in north Phoenix, cited COVID-19 concerns as the reason for the closed ceremony, but said the holiday has brought heavy foot traffic in the past.
“We usually average about 5,000 persons attending those services, and then, we usually get around, we estimate about 25,000 visitors in that day,” said Nowdomski.
Nowdomski says the ceremony will still be the same as every year, including the three-volley salute and the playing of "Taps."
