To commemorate Memorial Day from home and the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, Ancestry® is proud to present its Parade of Heroes, a virtual event hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford with a musical performance by Tori Kelly. We invite you to tune in as we stream the parade on  our Facebook Page via Watch Party on Monday, May 25 at 11 AM ET (8 AM PT).  With 2020 marking the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, Ancestry is providing new ways for people to connect to time in history and honor the generation that sacrificed so much to secure our freedom. Every day, memories of World War II disappear--and our unmatched collection of over 24 billion records are crucial in both answering questions about families' past and preserving the history and people behind the American experience in the war. In this 45-minute captivating production, the Parade of Heroes' will bring to life stories that honor those lost, through interviews with veterans of all ages and the lost veterans' families, including a special feature reflecting on World War II. There's never been a more important time to honor our ancestors' stories of triumph and to preserve the memory of WWII, one of the most significant events in world history, said Margo Georgiadis, President and CEO of Ancestry. When we take time to learn about our ancestors, we give power to their stories and pay tribute to their service. We also can unlock inspiration to become stronger and more resilient ourselves. This Memorial Day, Ancestry is making it easier for people to discover their personal connections to the war, and commemorate those who served and sacrificed. We've teamed up with the HISTORY®, Wounded Warrior Project, The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation, TAPS and Heroes of the Second World War to produce this joint tribute to those who sacrificed their lives to secure our freedom.  The parade will also feature traditional American hymns by The Lincoln Way Marching Band, celebrity cameo appearances and an inspiring educational platform of American history through the words and content of national veteran organizations and nonprofits. With the largest collection of U.S. military records for family history research, we invite you to discover your personal connection to World War II for free by finding the veterans in your family tree who served, and those who lived through this remarkable chapter in history. Find the untold stories of your ancestors' and honor their legacy this Memorial Day -- it's as easy as entering a grandparent's name. Ancestry has also opened free access to: 

• More than 550 million military records on Fold3®, covering military conflicts as early as the Revolutionary War, open May 21-25
• Nearly 500 million records and images from the National Archives and Records Administration available on Ancestry, including all 36 million of the nation's available World War II young man's draft cards, open now through June 1

Military records can provide incredible details about the heroes in your family and the sacrifices they made. Learning their stories is a great way to pay tribute. With over 250 million military records spanning hundreds of years, you can find the details of their service on Ancestry, like age at enlistment, date and place they enlisted, place of birth, physical description, occupation, date and location they joined their unit, and more. Find the names of those who perished in the fight, were listed as missing in action or were prisoners of war, the veterans who returned, and the sacrifices of their families in the fight to preserve freedom. We invite you to watch the Parade of Heroes' on our Facebook Page on Monday, May 25, and encourage you to post a picture or video on Instagram honoring your ancestor's legacy this Memorial Day using the hashtag #RememberAtHome.  We look forward to you joining us on Memorial Day!