Memorial Day weekend is often seen as the unofficial start of summer, but it is also a time to pause and remember the people who gave their lives in service to the country. This year, several networks are marking the holiday with classic war movies, patriotic programming, and historical documentaries that reflect on military service in very different ways.
From TCM’s multi-day movie marathon to MOVIES!’ lineup of war classics, PBS’ annual National Memorial Day Concert, and History’s new World War II documentary series narrated by Tom Hanks, here are some of the Memorial Day weekend specials and movies worth watching this year.