USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor® Returns to National Mall for Sixth Year to Honor and Remember Fallen Service Members

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USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor® Returns to National Mall for Sixth Year to Honor and Remember Fallen Service Members

2025-05-20 20:03 Last Updated At：20:11

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 2025--

As Americans prepare to observe Memorial Day, USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor® is returning to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for the sixth year. The temporary installation provides a space for remembrance and reflection while honoring the lives and impact made by the 600,000 military members lost in service to our country.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250520740494/en/

USAA first installed the 134-foot Poppy Wall of Honor on the National Mall in 2018 and has since hosted more than 50,000 visitors from around the world who have not only taken away a new or refreshed understanding of the holiday but have shared their personal stories and reflections while there. In fact, many visitors return to the Poppy Wall each year to honor their fallen service member.

“Memorial Day holds a special place in the hearts of Americans as we unite to honor our fallen heroes. Let us remember the sacrifices they made, support their loved ones and cherish the freedoms our nation’s service members have so bravely defended,” said Juan C. Andrade, President & CEO of USAA. “This year marks the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II and the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. We must never forget the enduring cost of freedom and the profound impact these—and all—conflicts have had on our country.”

The refreshed Poppy Wall of Honor focuses on the impact of each life lost and all they gave through their military service. Visitors will experience an enhanced and immersive experience centered around the poppy flower, the international symbol of remembrance, to include video features of those who’ve given their all for our country.

What has not changed about the Poppy Wall of Honor is the poignant display of 600,000 poppy flowers – a combination of Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Buddy® Poppies and The American Legion’s Memorial Poppies.

Ways to Honor and Remember This Memorial Day

For those unable to visit the Poppy Wall of Honor in Washington, D.C., USAA is offering other ways that Americans can honor the day, including:

Visitors in Washington, D.C., can experience the Poppy Wall of Honor beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET on Friday, May 23, through 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 25. The full operating hours, location, additional information, and stories about Memorial Day can be found at usaa.com/memorialday.

About USAA

Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking and retirement solutions and serves 14 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, USAA has offices in eight U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs more than 38,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X (@USAA), or visit usaa.com.

Thousands of nurses go on strike at several major New York City hospitals

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.