memorial day tributes

sisters honor dad national look may 25 2020

C1 3 ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Good afternoon i'm veronica jean seltzer..

And i'm tom kenny.

Thank you for joining us on this memorial day.

Memorial day is normally filled with ceremonies and parades... honoring our fallen veterans... but the covid-19 pandemic has upended traditional ceremonies.

While people weren't allowed to gather and watch the ceremonies at camp nelson... those with loved ones buried there were able to visit gravesites.

Sisters kay combs and maria knies went to visit their father... george washington combs... who died almost five years ago.

He served in korea and did two tours in vietnam.

Both say it's important to honor those who served.

The sisters say their mother also served in the military... with their father.

Andrew dymburt shows you how the war dead are being remembered during the pandemic.

Honoring heroes.

The commander in chief - president trump - paying tribute to fallen soliders with a wreath-laying ceremony at the arlington national cemetery before delivering a speech at fort mchenry in baltimore.

".

In america, we are the captains of our own fate.

No obstacle, no challenge, and no threat is a match for the sheer determination of the american people."

But on this memorial day, americans honoring not only those who sacrificed their lives for the greater good of the country -- but to the nearly 100-thousand lives lost to covid- 19.

"in recent months, our nation and the world have been engaged in a new form of battle against an invisible enemy."

Flags flying at half staff at the white house and other government buildings in memory of those killed by the virus.

And this sunday new york times cover page.

999 covid-19 victims' names listed together.

Much like the military men and womens' names etched across war memorials throughout the country.

With social- distancing guidelines still in effect - veterans virtually commemorated.

The united states navy memorial holding an online cermony.

Communities coming together as well.

Members of the berkeley heights new jersey police department visiting the homes of veterans holding brief ceremonies outside their houses.

Former vice president - and presumptive democratic nominee joe biden - stepping out into the spotlight with a rare public appearance to veterans memorial park in delaware.

It's one of the first times he's been seen outside of his home in recent weeks in wake of the coronavirus crisis.

Reporter stand-up close: there were some in- person 'open to the public' events for memorial day here in the nation's capital - but with limited access and social distancing enforced.

Andrew dymburt abc news washington.

A protest this weekend in