Many Americans died to preserve the freedom we enjoy. On Memorial Day we remember these valiant men and women, cities organize grand parades and people gather to remember the lives of the fallen soldiers who fought for this nation. Though many now associate Memorial Day, like any other national holiday, with sales and the urge to buy anything in out sight, three cities continue to commemorate fallen veterans with the respect they deserve.

Washington D.C.

Since 2005, The National Memorial Day Parade has been held in the nation's capital. The parade will represent veterans from all previous wars, dating back to the American War for Independence. According to the American Veteran Center's website, the event has grown in size with each passing year. In 2008, the event began being broadcast to the nation. This year it will be aired nationally on Reelz, internationally on the Pentagon Channel, in D.C. on Channel 8 and will be streamed live on Military.com

The event will begin promptly at 2 p.m. and will commence the corner of Constitution Avenue and 7th Street, NW. It will proceed west down Constitution, past the White House, ending at 17th Street.

New York City

Boasting one of the oldest Memorial Day Parades, the city of New York will commemorate its veterans with a parade through Brooklyn. Featuring various veterans organizations like the Kings County American Legion, Catholic War Veterans, Jewish War Veterans, Korean War Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, Women Veterans, Gulf War Veterans, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Brooklyn "Key Chapter" American Ex-Prisoners of War, United War Council of New York, and Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans, Wounded Warriors, the NYPD and FDNY, according to the parade's site.

The parade will take off at 11 a.m. and will begin along Third Avenue to Marine Avenue, up to Fourth Avenue and over to John Paul Jones Park on 101st Street and Fourth Avenue for the memorial service.

Chicago

The Windy City will hold its own grand parade. The Grand Marshall will be Rep. Tammy Duckworth, who represents the Illinois 8th District. According to the event site, the parade will be preceded by a wreath laying ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Eternal Flame on Daley Plaza. The event will begin at noon and will proceed south on State Street from Lake Street to Van Buren Street.