Manatee County Observes Memorial Day and Honors Gold Star Families

MANATEE COUNTY — Manatee County Government offices will be closed Monday, May 26, 2025, to commemorate Memorial Day. As part of the County’s commemoration, a special event will take place on Friday, May 23, featuring the unveiling of a new interactive kiosk honoring fallen local service members and the official dedication of a portion of a local roadway as "Gold Star Families Memorial Highway."

“This is an opportunity to honor those who’ve paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,” said District 4 Commissioner and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Mike Rahn.

Manatee County Libraries will be closed on Monday, May 26. All trash, recycling, and yard waste collections for the week will be postponed one day from Tuesday through Saturday for residents in unincorporated Manatee. The Lena Road Landfill will be closed on Monday, May 26, 2025. There will be no Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) fixed route or Handy Bus service on May 26. The Anna Maria Island Trolley will operate normal daily routes, and the Manatee Avenue Beach Express will operate on a holiday schedule. 

Manatee County parks and beaches will be open to the public, as will the Manatee County and Buffalo Creek Golf Courses. The county’s natural preserves will remain open. G.T. Bray Recreation Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., with all check-ins occurring at the Recreation Center and a modified group exercise schedule. The pool will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. After 1 p.m., access to the pool will be through the aquatics gate.

Citizens are encouraged to take part in area Memorial Day observances, including:

• Gold Star Memorial Kiosk & Highway Sign Unveiling Ceremony
  9:30 a.m.
  Friday, May 23
  Manatee County
  1112 Manatee Ave. W.
  Bradenton
  Manatee County will unveil a permanent kiosk to honor Gold Star Families (family of a U.S. military member who has died while serving in the armed forces) and dedicate a portion of Buckeye Road from US 41 to Interstate 75 as "Gold Star Families Memorial Highway." 

• 10th Annual Sarasota Memorial Day Flag Placement
  7:30 a.m.
  Saturday, May 24
  Sarasota National Cemetery
  9810 State Road 72
  Sarasota
  Families will place their loved one's flag at 7:50am, remaining flags will be placed beginning at 8am.
   
• Bradenton’s Annual Memorial Day Service
  9:00 a.m.
  Monday, May 26
  Don Courtney Veterans' Monuments Park
  176 Waterfront Dr.
  Bradenton
  Please join the community in recognizing our Veterans who all gave some and some who gave all that we may live in freedom. The Park is located on the Riverwalk behind Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton.
   
• Memorial Day Patriotic Symphony Salute
  10: 00 a.m.
  Monday, May 26
  Anna Maria City Pier Park
  103 N. Bay Blvd.
  Anna Maria
  The annual Memorial Day Observance and Concert at the Anna Maria City Pier starts at 10 a.m. The 90-minute program is free to attend and includes a flag presentation by the U.S. Marine Corps.
   
• National Moment of Remembrance
  3:00 p.m.
  Monday, May 26
  This annual event that asks Americans, wherever they are at 3:00 pm local time, to pause for one minute to remember those who have died in military service to the United States. TAPS Across America encourages all who are interested to play TAPS at 3:00 pm.