Memorial Day is held on the last Monday in May each year to honor members of the Armed Forces who gave their lives to protect our country.
There are many ways to celebrate the holiday, from local events like parades and ceremonies to a nationally broadcast Memorial Day concert.
Memorial Day specifically celebrates military members who died during active duty. However, it’s also important to keep in mind U.S. veterans who passed away from service-connected conditions like mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops 10 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Many U.S. veterans who served before the early 1980s were exposed to this toxic substance, putting them at risk.
Below, find ways to celebrate Memorial Day 2025. You can also get a Free Veterans Packet to explore resources that can help veterans after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Ways to Honor U.S. Service Members on Memorial Day 2025
There are plenty of ways to get involved and celebrate the sacrifices that so many service members made this Memorial Day.
Some of the best ways to celebrate include:
- Attend a local Memorial Day event: Learn what your community is doing to celebrate Memorial Day. Parades, ceremonies, cookouts, and more are scheduled across the country. Check local TV channels, newspapers, or websites to find events happening near you.
- Donate: You can donate to groups that support service members, like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, or to cancer research organizations like the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.
- Visit cemeteries and memorials: You and your family can visit service members’ resting places and leave flowers or flags to help honor their memories.
- Watch or attend the National Memorial Day Concert: The 36th annual concert will take place the night before Memorial Day on Sunday, May 25th, in Washington, D.C. If you can’t be there in person, you can watch on your local PBS station or through an online livestream.
There’s no one right way to celebrate Memorial Day — even simple gestures can go a long way.
Helping U.S. Veterans With Mesothelioma on Memorial Day
As Memorial Day approaches, it’s important to not only honor the memory of fallen service members but also to support veterans facing mesothelioma.
Veterans are at risk of mesothelioma as the military heavily used asbestos between the 1930s and early 1980s. Today, about 33% of all mesothelioma patients are U.S. veterans.
Explore top resources that can help veterans with mesothelioma and their families below
VA Benefits for Veterans With Mesothelioma
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a wide range of benefits to veterans affected by a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Notable mesothelioma VA benefits include:
- Disability compensation: : The VA almost always awards veterans with mesothelioma a 100% disability rating, making them eligible for $4,044.91 or more per month as of 2025.
- Funeral benefits: Family members who lost a U.S. veteran to mesothelioma can apply for funeral benefits to cover the costs of funeral and burial expenses.
- Pensions: In some cases, veterans with mesothelioma or their surviving family members may be eligible for monthly pensions if their income is below a set amount
Call (877) 450-8973 for help filing for or maximizing your VA benefits after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Mesothelioma Treatment Options
U.S. veterans can get treatment for mesothelioma from military or civilian hospitals located throughout the country.
Many top mesothelioma doctors specifically treat veterans for free or at a low cost through the VA health care system.
Mesothelioma specialists know the best treatments for this rare cancer and can make tailored recommendations depending on a veteran’s overall health, cancer stage, and more.
Mesothelioma Compensation Options
Veterans with mesothelioma and their families can pursue compensation from manufacturers of asbestos-containing products, which knew the dangers but hid them for decades.
Compensation options for veterans with mesothelioma include:
- Asbestos trust fund claims: More than $30 billion is available in these trusts. Veterans or their loved ones may qualify to file claims with multiple trusts.
- Mesothelioma lawsuits: The average lawsuit awards $1 million or more. Veterans and their families won’t sue the U.S. military or the government — only the manufacturers of asbestos products.
Veterans can still receive mesothelioma VA benefits even if they file lawsuits and trust fund claims.
Get a Free Veterans Packet to see how we can help you access VA benefits and compensation for mesothelioma, if eligible.
Remembering Mesothelioma Veterans on Memorial Day 2025
It’s important to honor the sacrifices of our military members on Memorial Day — whether they died in the line of duty or from a service-related disease like mesothelioma.
From attending a local parade or ceremony, watching the National Memorial Day Concert, or exploring ways to assist U.S. veterans with mesothelioma, there are plenty of ways to get involved.
At the Mesothelioma Veterans Center, it is our mission every day to honor the legacy of fallen service members and support those fighting asbestos-related diseases.
Get our Free Veterans Packet to explore VA benefits, treatments, and compensation that can help you or a veteran with mesothelioma that you love.
