Taiwanese Delegation Joins Memorial Day Parade in Washington, Symbolizing US-Taiwan Friendship

The last Monday of May is Memorial Day, a federal holiday in the US to honor military personnel who died in service. Commemorative events were held across the country, including in Washington, where President Trump laid a wreath and delivered a speech at Arlington National Cemetery. In his speech, Trump mentioned the 13 US service members who recently died in military actions against Iran, honoring their sacrifice and emphasizing that "Iran will never have nuclear weapons." The parade on Constitution Avenue in Washington was attended by Taiwan's Representative to the US, Alexander Yui, and Minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council, Hsu Chia-ching. Yui stated that the alliance between Taiwan and the US is rooted in shared values and the difficulties they have overcome together, highlighting the strong bond from WWII to the current stability of the Taiwan Strait. A delegation of over 110 people organized by the Washington Veterans Association participated in the parade, marching with Taiwanese and US flags. Association President Hsieh Chi-yu noted that this year's participation was the largest ever to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US. A banner reading "Republic of China and the United States: The Most Solid Allies in WWII" was also displayed. According to the Veterans Affairs Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, they have participated in this event since 2005, and since 2023, a massive Republic of China flag has appeared on the streets of Washington, showcasing the friendship between the two nations.