Ambassador Daniel García-Peña Joined Volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day

As the United States marks Memorial Day, Colombian flowers once again accompany thousands of Americans in remembrance and solidarity. Through a longstanding partnership between Asocolflores and the Memorial Day Flowers Foundation, Colombia’s floricultural sector joins in honoring the lives of those who served.

This year, more than 180,000 stems—donated by Colombian growers are placed at Arlington National Cemetery and shared at commemorative events across the U.S. throughout the weekend. The Ambassador of Colombia to the United States, Daniel García-Peña, joined volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery, hand-delivering flowers to honor the memory of fallen service members.

“On Memorial Day, we accompany the United States with a gesture of solidarity,” the Ambassador stated. “Colombian flowers carry with them a message of respect, gratitude, and shared humanity—offered from one nation to another, in recognition of the significance this day holds for so many American families.” 

With nearly 80% of Colombia’s fresh flower exports destined for the United States, the floriculture industry sustains close to 200,000 formal jobs in Colombia—60% held by women—and over 120,000 jobs across the U.S. Beyond trade, these flowers speak to something more profound: the enduring human connections that bind our two nations.On Memorial Day, as thousands laid flowers in Arlington and other resting places across the United States, they also shared messages of peace, love, and remembrance, with petals cultivated in Colombia’s Andean highlands. Each flower, placed with intention, adds to a collective tribute, reminding us that the language of gratitude and memory is universal.

Led by Asocolflores, the initiative reflects how Colombia and the United States continue to stand alongside one another. Flowers grown in Colombia’s highlands—present year-round in some of the most meaningful moments in American life—offer a subtle but powerful symbol of care, dignity, and shared respect.

“Flowers offer more than beauty—they provide wellbeing; they are food for the soul. By being part of Memorial Day, we not only pay tribute to those who served but also recognize the emotional strength and unity that flowers help foster,” said Augusto Solano Mejía, President of Asocolflores.