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Jim Weber / AP
The nation pauses to honor fallen troops.
In Washington, President Barack Obama honors those who fought in the Vietnam War. NBC's Kevin Tibbles reports.
Slideshow: Memorial Day observed around the U.S.
Air Force family surprised by dad's return from Afghanistan
David Goldman / AP
Game to remember: US Air Force Master Sgt. David Sims, center right, of Centerville, Ga., is embraced by his wife Robin, and children, Bree Anna, 10, from left, Brittney, 13, and Dustin, 12, after surprising his family during the fifth inning of a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, May 28, in Atlanta. Sims returned home from his deployment in Afghanistan
Erik S. Lesser / EPA
The Sims family showers the returning sergeant with hugs in between innings during an Atlanta Braves-St. Louis Cardinals game in Atlanta, Ga., on May 28.
David Goldman / AP
Sims and his wife, Robin, in Atlanta after surprising his family from his deployment in Afghanistan.
Charles Dharpak/ AP
The nation pauses to honor fallen troops.
On the day that we take the time to honor those who sacrificed everything for their country it is wonderful to see the joy on the faces of these family members when U.S Air Force Master Sgt. David Sims surprised them at Turner Field in Atlanta.
Memorial Day observed around the U.S.
David Goldman / AP
American flags wave near the grave of Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Harris as the the sun rises over Georgia National Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 28, in Canton, Ga. Harris died Feb. 6, 2012.
David Goldman / AP
Retired U.S. Marine Sgt. Chad Casey, of Canton, Ga., places American flags at the graves at Georgia National Cemetery, Monday, May 28, 2012, in Canton, Ga.
Cliff Owen / AP
Marine Captains' Brady Bustin, of Des Moines, Iowa, left, and Sean Wills, of Herndon, Va., toast fallen Marine 1st Lt. Nicholas Madrazo, in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Va., Monday, May 28. Madrazo, of Bothell, Wash., was killed Sept. 9, 2008 by a roadside bomb in Parwan province.
Charles Dharpak/ AP
The nation pauses to honor fallen troops.
Charles Dharapak / AP
Rolling Thunder cruises through Washington, D.C., in support of POW/MIA, veterans and troops
A Marine salutes as motorcycles drive past during the annual Rolling Thunder parade ahead of Memorial Day in Washington, D.C., May 27.
Beryl produces rip currents off N.C. coast, could make for wet holiday weekend
Matt Born / The Star-News via AP
Joel Izaguirre, left, and Dorian Hernandez of Dunn, N.C., ride some heavy surf at Carolina Beach, N.C. May 26. Strong rip currents created dangerous swimming conditions and prompted Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue to close the beach to swimming and not allow people in past their knees.
Matt Born / The Star-News via AP
Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue squad leader Evan Anderson places a sign in the sand closing the beach to swimming at Carolina Beach, N.C., May 26.
"A three-day thunderstorm is what it's probably going to be," said Jay Wiggins, emergency management director for Glynn County, which is about 60 miles south of Savannah, Ga., and includes Brunswick and St. Simons Island. "Unfortunately, it's going to ruin a lot of Memorial Day plans."
Wiggins said he expects some flooded roadways and scattered power outages, perhaps some minor flooding in waterfront homes, but otherwise little damage. However, he urged beachgoers to beware of dangerous rip currents.
-- Reported by msnbc.com staff and news service reports
Read the full story. See more Memorial Day images.
Follow @msnbc_picturesA powerful storm is making its way through the Atlantic. The Weather Channel's Paul Goodloe reports.
33,000 flags planted in Boston for Memorial Day
Steven Senne / AP
People walk through a portion of the Boston Common covered with American flags, in Boston, May 23.
Steven Senne / AP
Buttons featuring the likeness of fallen U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Alexander S. Arredondo and his brother Brian Luis Arredondo, who took his own life following the death of Alexander, are attached to an American flag in front of thousands of flags planted in the Boston Common, in Boston, May 23. Relatives and volunteers planted the 33,000 flags in the historic park in advance of the Memorial Day weekend, in tribute to Massachusetts soldiers killed in conflicts as far back as the Civil War. Alexander was killed in 2004 in Iraq.
Over 200 volunteers spent Wednesday planting flags for Memorial Day on the grounds of Boston Common in downtown Boston in honor of those who served and died for our country. The 33,000 flags represent all of the fallen soldiers from Massachusetts who have died since the civil war.
Today, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will honor veterans at an event at Soldiers and Sailors Monument, where all the names of the state’s soldiers who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan will be read. The city will also hold services and parades over the holiday weekend.
Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
U.S. President Barack Obama lays a Memorial Day wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia on Monday, May 30.
Obama honors the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery
AP reports: Americans from Washington to California are marking Memorial Day with parades, barbecues and special tributes tied to the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
An annual holiday honoring the nation's war dead was infused with new meaning this year, coming just months before the 10-year anniversary.
The National Memorial Day parade in Washington was to include a special recognition for first responders to the 9/11 attacks and to victims' relatives. Actor Gary Sinise and Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean and Vietnam wars were among the guests. Continue reading...
Americans begin their Memorial Day weekend by hitting the road and enjoying a little downtime
Damian Dovarganes / AP
A pickup and travel trailer leaves a gas station after filling up for the long Memorial Day weekend in Valencia, Calif. on May 27, 2011. Gas prices are still topping $4-a-gallon in much of the country.
Eric Gay / AP
Tubers are flipped around as they float the Comal River as Memorial Day Weekend marks the beginning of summer on Friday in New Braunfels, Texas.
Damian Dovarganes / AP
Travelers get an early start on the Memorial Day weekend traffic on I-5 in Los Angeles on Friday.
Related stories:
Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP
American flags adorn grave markers at United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery (USSAH) in Washington, Friday, May 27, 2011, in preparation for Memorial Day. USSAH National Cemetery is the first national cemetery and is the predecessor of Arlington National Cemetery.
Preparations being made for Memorial Day at National Cemetery in Washington D.C.
As we celebrate Memorial weekend let’s not forget those that gave us that liberty.
Have a safe weekend everyone.
Soldiers place flags in Arlington National Cemetery
Michael Reynolds / EPA
Soldiers of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) place grave decorating flags in Section 60, during the 'Flags In' ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, USA, 26 May. The ceremony known as 'Flags In' is performed to commemorate and honor US military personnel ahead of the upcoming 30 May 2011 Memorial Day and has been conducted annually since 1948. During 'Flags In', the 3rd US Infantry Regiment will place an American flag at each of the more than 220,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery. Section 60 is the final resting place for the majority of casualties at Arlington National Cemetery that died from Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
For many, Memorial Day is about family vacations or sales at the mall; for others it's about honoring service members or visiting the graves of deceased relatives. Visiting the Arlington Cemetery site, I was surprised to learn that they average 28 funerals a day. You can see today's funeral schedule here.
Win McNamee / Getty Images
Members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment place American flags at the graves of U.S. soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery in preparation for Memorial Day May 26.
Win McNamee / Getty Images
U.S. Army Private Philip Wong places a flag at the headstone of Sgt. Paul Dumont at Arlington National Cemetery in preparation for Memorial Day May 26.
Israelis mark Memorial Day with silent tributes to the fallen
A wailing siren sounded across Israel Monday morning, bringing the country to a standstill in two minutes of silence to mark Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of militant attacks.
Tara Todras-Whitehill / AP
An Israeli woman stands still next to her car on a highway as a siren marking the annual Memorial Day sounds in Jerusalem on Monday, May 9.
Amir Cohen / Reuters
Israeli youths stand still on a breakwater at the marina in the southern city of Ashkelon on May 9, 2011, as a two-minute siren marking Memorial Day is sounded across the country.
Menahem Kahana / AFP - Getty Images
Israelis and tourists observe two minutes of silence as a siren wails across the country marking Remembrance Day for the fallen soldiers, at Jerusalem's Ben Yehuda pedestrian street, on May 9.
On Sunday evening in Tel Aviv, photographer Oded Balilty attended a pre- Memorial Day event that included Palestinians who have lost loved ones in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His photographs of couples hugging, reproduced below, are a creative and moving response to the story. Read more about the event in our article, Israel's Memorial Day highlights stark divisions.
Oded Balilty / AP
An Israeli couple hug each other as they mark Memorial Day at an event in Tel Aviv on Sunday, May 8.
Oded Balilty / AP
An Israeli couple hug each other as they mark Memorial Day at an event in Tel Aviv on Sunday, May 8.
Oded Balilty / AP
An Israeli couple hug each other as they mark Memorial Day at an event in Tel Aviv on Sunday, May 8.
Jason Reed / Reuters
Monica McNeal (L) reaches out to touch the headstone of her 19-year-old son Eric Ward's grave alongside family friend Molly Pannell at Arlington National Cemetery on May 27. Lance Corporal Eric Ward, a fourth-generation U.S. Marine, was killed in Afghanistan on February 21, 2010.
Memorial Day
Came across this touching image when looking at photos that came to us on Memorial Day. Click here to see more