Disneyland Resort Honors Purple Heart Recipients

The daily flag retreat ceremony in Disneyland park has been a cherished tradition since opening day, honoring veterans and active-duty military. On National Purple Heart Day, August 7, Disneyland Resort held a special ceremony to honor 11 Purple Heart recipients.

Honorees and their families gathered at the flagpole in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. The guests stood with their hands over their hearts as a voiceover paid tribute to their incredible courage and sacrifice defending freedom. Each recipient was presented with an American flag inside a shadow box as a token of gratitude.

“It’s a huge honor for us to be here… recognizing those who were wounded making a sacrifice for our country to maintain our freedom and get to enjoy days like this in remembrance,” said Marine Corps Maj. Darryl Ellis. “The recognition that The Walt Disney Company and Disneyland has of our veteran community means the world.”

The flag retreat ceremony at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom parks echoes Disney’s long-standing tradition of honoring service, rooted in the company’s centennial history and the military service of Walt and Roy O. Disney during World War I. This ceremony highlights Disney’s ongoing respect and gratitude for veterans and military families.

Throughout the year, Disneyland Resort offers a variety of special military discounts on tickets and hotel stays. Eligible U.S. military members can purchase tickets through military base ticket offices or via GOVX.com. Special room rates are also available at Disneyland Resort hotels and Good Neighbor Hotels.

Guests planning to visit with a military ticket or other Disneyland Resort offer should check the theme park reservation availability calendar to ensure their desired date and park are available before purchasing. A theme park reservation is required for each day of the visit and can be made up to 180 days in advance.

---

To read more about this, visit the Official Disney Parks Blog post here.
New here? If so, be sure to explore our free Disney trip planning tools:
Discount Ticket Finder | Crowd Calendar | DVC Rental listings