600,000 handmade poppies commemorate US soldiers killed in combat since WWI

A solid wall of red poppies draws eyes in Washington’s National Mall,  each of the 600,000 handmade poppies representing each U.S. military service member killed in combat since World War One.

The installation is meant to slow visitors down during Memorial Day weekend and refocus attention on the meaning behind the holiday.

Joey Vargas, a retired Navy veteran, says Memorial Day (Monday, May 25, 2026) is often misunderstood.

“It’s not a day to celebrate,” Vargas said.

“We here tend to look at it as the unofficial start of the summer, and many people would do barbecues and parties, etc., and look at it like a day of celebration. Quite frankly, it's not. It's a day of remembrance.”

One side of the installation details America’s wars and the number of lives lost in each conflict. When visitors walk around the wall they come across the red poppies showing the sheer numbers..

For Vargas, the display offers something deeper than education. He says it gives veterans and families a place to reflect, decompress, and pay their respects.

-Production: Julio-Cesar Chavez/Reuters