On Friday, May 24, 2024, over 100 sailors and marines could be seen enjoying the magic at the Disneyland Resort. The service members were at the Disneyland Resort as a part of Los Angeles Fleet Week. This continues a long-running tradition that the resort has of saluting military service when they are in town.
A Day Full of Magic
Throughout the day, sailors could be seen visiting a galaxy far, far away at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, stopping by for a picnic with Mickey Mouse in Mickey’s Toontown on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and also participating in the patriotic flag retreat in Town Square. This made an already meaningful part of a day at Disneyland even more powerful.
Patriotic Flag Retreat
The sailors and marines marched down Main Street, USA ahead of the Disneyland Band. They then stood in formation on the front of Main Street Station with the Disneyland Band on the street in front of them. As the colors were retired for the day, they solemnly stood at attention. This moment honors those who serve and have served on a daily basis. The addition of these military members added to the weight and debt of gratitude that was felt by those in attendance.
Elsewhere around the park, there were Missing Hero tables set up for those service members who didn’t return from a mission. These were found at select restaurants at the resort. All of these offerings were visible ways that the Disneyland Resort showed its gratitude to service members on Memorial Day weekend.
Disney’s Commitment to Service Members
This respect and gratitude for service to country dates back to before The Walt Disney Company was founded. Both Walt Disney and his brother Roy O. Disney served during World War I. Roy O. Disney served in the United States Navy and Walt Disney served as an ambulance driver in the Red Cross Ambulance Corps. Their devotion to country and service continues over 100 years later through several initiatives of The Walt Disney Company. Disney is a leading proponent of hiring, training and supporting military veterans with the Heroes Work Here initiative, the Heroes Supply Here program and Disney’s Veterans Institute.
The Disneyland Resort itself is a proud supporter of military families. It is a premier employer and destination of choice for U.S. military members and their families with over 900 veterans currently employed by the resort. This is just one way The Walt Disney Company that demonstrates its commitment to veterans and military families. There is also a business employee resource group , or BERG), called SALUTE. This is made up of cast members dedicated to providing community and opportunity for those who are in the service, veterans or family/friends of service members. They come together to share experiences, host events, advocate and provide input on various offerings from the Disneyland Resort.
Military families can also receive discounts on magical Disney experiences as well. Disney provides special rates for Disney theme park tickets, resort hotel rates and military discounts for Disney Cruise Line.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, is a solemn American holiday dedicated to honoring the men and women who have died in military service to the United States. Originating after the Civil War, it was initially known as Decoration Day, a time when people would decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. Today, Memorial Day serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by military personnel in all conflicts throughout the nation’s history. The day is marked by ceremonies at cemeteries and monuments, the laying of wreaths, and moments of silence, reflecting on the cost of freedom. It also signifies the unofficial start of summer, with families gathering for barbecues, parades, and other community events, blending remembrance with a celebration of the enduring values of liberty and patriotism.
This Memorial Day weekend, the Disneyland Resort continues to show its dedication to military service members and their families. Join us in giving a hearty thank you to all of those who have served. The cost of freedom is never free and these people and their families pay that price on a daily basis. Hats off to all who have helped uphold the promises and ideals that make the United States of America the land of possibility and freedom.
