As we gather with family and friends this Memorial Day, WCNY invites you to pause and reflect on the courage and sacrifice of those who gave everything for our country. Through special programming and stories of service, we honor their memory and the values they fought to protect.
Tune in for commemorative broadcasts, thoughtful features, and educational content across TV, radio, and streaming.
Peleliu: WWII’s Most Well-Preserved Battlefield
Watch Saturday, May 23 at 2 p.m. on WCNY-TV
The remote island of Peleliu is considered one of the world’s best-preserved battlefields. Removing relics is illegal, leaving the site much as it was after fighting ended in fall 1944. Explore World War II’s impact on this small island in Palau, Micronesia.
History Detectives: Japanese Carved Cane, Kittery Telescope, Baker’s Gold
Watch Saturday, May 23 at 6 p.m. on WCNY-TV
Can the Japanese characters carved into this cane unlock the mystery of a family’s past in a World War II relocation camp? Can “History Detectives” trace this unusual wooden telescope to its Revolution era ancestor? And is this drawing of huge, eight pound gold nuggets genuine or another example of Gold Rush hype?
Homecoming: Sgt. Hamilton’s Long Journey
Watch Saturday, May 23 at 10:30 p.m. on WCNY-TV
Sgt. Vernon Hamilton from Monongahela was shot down over Germany during World War II. The plane and remains of the three crew members were declared unrecoverable. Decades later, an excavation and forensics team would bring long-awaited closure to his family. Sgt. Hamilton’s 1943 Monongahela High School ring—discovered at the excavation site—was a key component in identifying his remains.
Watch Sunday, May 24 at 2 p.m. on WCNY-TV
“My Father’s Secret War: France 1944” is a riveting and true story of an American who joined the British S.O.E. and was parachuted into France with a small team just after D-Day to organize the French Resistance into a cohesive army. The mission was to stop Germany’s most feared troops from reaching Normandy and affecting the D-Day landings of June 6, 1944.
The United States Army Field Band: Sound the Bells
Watch Sunday, May 24 at 3 p.m. on WCNY-TV
Recorded live at The Lyric in Baltimore, this one-hour holiday special features the Musical Ambassadors of the Army, the U.S. Army Field Band, showcasing the incredible musical talents of active duty Soldiers.
National Memorial Day Concert 2026
Watch Sunday, May 24 at 8 & 9:30 p.m. on WCNY-TV
America’s national night of remembrance live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol brings us together as one family of Americans to honor the service of generations of our men and women in uniform, our military families, with a special Semiquincentennial segment honoring all those who have given their lives in service to our nation since its founding 250 years ago. Hosted by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise, the 2026 concert features personal stories and tributes interwoven with musical performances by world-renowned artists and the National Symphony Orchestra to commemorate the real meaning of the holiday.
Watch Monday, May 25 at 5:30 p.m. & Thursday, May 28 at 8 p.m. on WCNY-TV
Join us in celebrating our nation’s veterans by welcoming home the men and women of Honor Flight Syracuse Mission 24. Learn more about the Honor Flight program and what it means to the veterans to be recognized for their service.
Memorial Day Special: To Honor the Fallen
This Memorial Day, join us on WCNY Radio for a special broadcast, “To Honor the Fallen.” Major Charles Roberts, host of “Built to Serve,” shares music in tribute to those who gave their lives in service to our country, featuring powerful works from World War I through the Vietnam War in moving performances.
Listen Monday, May 25 at 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. on Classic FM
2025 National Memorial Day Concert: Featured Stories
Explore real-life stories that span the full history of our nation’s military conflicts.
This award-winning documentary reveals that U.S. officials suppressed—for decades—the most important footage shot in Hiroshima and Nagasaki (including by the U.S. Army) after the atomic bombings. Why? What was the result and how does it haunt us today?
Explore why we observe Memorial Day, how it originated as Decoration Day, and the importance of honoring those who have died in military service. A great resource for introducing reflection, remembrance, and civic understanding in the classroom.
This activity provides a striking visual representation of sacrifice and remembrance while engaging students in civic learning, community connection, and meaningful discussion about the purpose of Memorial Day.
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