1. The National Memorial Day Parade takes place annually on May 26 in Washington D.C. to honor the service and sacrifice of military personnel who have served and continue to serve our country.

2. On May 26, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced the formation of the Peace Corps in a commencement speech at the University of Michigan. The program sends American volunteers abroad to work on various development projects.

3. The National Museum of American History opened its doors to the public on May 26, 1964. The museum is one of the most visited in the country and contains artifacts that represent the social, cultural, scientific, and political history of the United States.

4. In 1972, the Watergate scandal gained national attention when a group of men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex in D.C. on May 26. The subsequent investigations and legal proceedings eventually led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

5. On May 26, 2011, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial was dedicated on the National Mall in Washington D.C. The 30-foot statue of Dr. King is the first memorial on the Mall honoring an African American and a non-president.