Memorial Day 2025: Disney Remembers the Sacrifices of America’s Heroes

Memorial Day has always served as a reminder to pause and reflect on the selfless service and sacrifice of our fallen military heroes. Disney is honored to take part in recognizing our heroes’ valiant service and the families they have left behind.  

Disney’s enduring salute to service began over a century ago when founders, Walt and Roy O. Disney, both nobly served their country during World War I. Through contributing to morale of U.S. Armed Forces with Disney-themed military insignias, hidden nods to service woven into the iconic parks, supporting veteran employment and more, Disney continues to foster military support and camaraderie.

Disney honors all fallen heroes this Memorial Day weekend with Missing Hero Tables at Disneyland Resort, Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa and backstage locations at Walt Disney World Resort. The tables are reserved to honor the brave and selfless American military members who gave their lives in service to our country or went missing in action and have not found their way back home.  

Here are just a few of the aspects of the Missing Hero tables:  

“The Missing Hero Tables we display at this time are meant to be a strong visual symbol of those who are no longer with us, that those who see them may stop for a moment to reflect and hopefully show appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy due to the great sacrifice that these many heroes have given for us,” explained Disneyland Resort main entrance operations manager and U.S. Navy veteran, Nick Filippone.  

During National Military Appreciation Month, The Walt Disney Company continues its longstanding commitment to those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and their families by remembering and honoring their courage and sacrifice.

Disneyland Resort hosted Marines and Sailors in port for Los Angeles Fleet Week — a salute to members of the U.S. Sea Services held over Memorial Day Weekend each year–by surprising 100 service members with a day at Disneyland Resort! 

The Sailors and Marines had the chance to “celebrate happy” during the Disneyland 70^th Celebration by enjoying time inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Mickey’s Toontown and even the returning “Paint the Night” parade and “Wondrous Journeys” nighttime spectacular!  

“Disney really embraces our veterans, and it’s been part of the DNA of the Disneyland Resort. You see it everywhere you go — from the flag retreat to Veteran’s Day to Fleet Week 2025 — it’s always at the forefront of what we do here every day,” said Ariel Elias, category manager, Sourcing, Disneyland Resort who is also a retired Marine Corps Warrant Officer and former participant in Disney’s military fellowship program.

Most notably, cast members and guests alike had the chance to honor their valiant service with a special flag retreat ceremony in Town Square, accompanied by the Disneyland Band, The Dapper Dans and special honoree, Rear Admiral Richard W. Meyer, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet, U.S. Navy. 

“How many times in your life do you have the opportunity to actually get to participate in the events that are happening at Disneyland, the happiest place on Earth?” said Rear Admiral Meyer. “To be able to come here, share that with the public, participate in the events, get to see some of the cool new things at Disneyland, and really get to show off the Sailors and Marines to the community — it’s really a chance to do that and I think that’s what made this a really special day.” 

The Disney VoluntEARS program empowers cast members all over the world to participate in charitable events with various organizations – with over 13 million hours volunteered since 1983. In support of National Military Appreciation Month, cast members around the country had various opportunities to help support military families and veterans including assembling care packages on both coasts and donating books in Hawaii.  

Through the United Service Organization (USO), Walt Disney World cast members were able to come together in creating 2,000 care packages for deployed service members. The bags are made up of various toiletry items, a note of encouragement and a touch of Disney magic.  

Similarly, VoluntEARS in Glendale got to work with Blue Star Families to assemble care packages for military families to aid in easing their transition after moving due to Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. Moving can be stressful and impactful on various aspects of family life and these care packages help bring happiness to those families by sharing the magic of Disney.  

Blue Star Families also worked alongside cast members from Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, to bring joy to military families at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. VoluntEARS participated in crafting with kids, a special reading of Lilo & Stitch (Little Golden Book), and even helped facilitate a surprise visit from Stitch! Each child received a Mickey Mouse plush and had the opportunity to select five free Disney books to take home.  

“Aulani was honored to help our Blue Star Families ‘ohana bring a little Disney magic to Hawai’i-based military families through the power of mo’olelo or story,” said Dylan Rogers, Aulani Ambassador.

This year, Disney is once again delivering care packages of Disney-themed products to nearly 100 Fisher Houses across the country, from Anchorage to Miami. This continues the company’s relationship with Fisher House Foundation, which offers free, temporary lodging to military and veteran families, allowing them to be close to their loved ones receiving medical care at a nearby military medical center or VA Hospital. 

There are many ways Disney brings joy to guests and the company takes pride in its over 100 years of enduring salute to service. Since 2012, Disney has contributed funding and media support to nonprofit organizations that focus on creating happiness for veterans and military families.  

The company is grateful to not only get to recognize heroes within our parks but also through charitable giving and relationships with organizations like the USO, Blue Star Families, Fisher House Foundation and Student Veterans of America or through hiring initiatives like Heroes Work Here.

Walt Disney once said, “You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.”

The foundation of Disney parks and resorts can be credited to the efforts of many individuals, including veterans. In the creation of Disneyland, Walt turned to fellow service members to help make his dream a reality, nearly 25 of whom are recognized as Disney Legends.

Through the creation of Heroes Work Here in 2012, Disney has continued to support employment opportunities for U.S. military members and helped thousands of veterans find jobs within The Walt Disney Company. Today, the program continues Disney’s commitment to facilitating the professional success of veterans and their families.

Disney parks are places that create happiness and enduring family memories. This is especially important for military families enjoying time together in between times of extended separations due to military service.

Disney honors and salutes the service and sacrifice of military service members and veterans in many ways including daily flag retreat ceremonies at Magic Kingdom Park in Florida and Disneyland Park in California. These are incredibly special moments and something the company has been doing since Disneyland first opened nearly 70 years ago.

Additionally, through special relationships with such organizations as the Bush Institute, Disney is honored to host former President George W. Bush’s Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors exhibit in EPCOT.

Whether it’s through charitable contributions, training programs or theme park discounts, The Walt Disney Company continues to exemplify respect and honor for those who have sacrificed and contributed to the U.S. Armed Forces.