Light Wave

Politics

Memorial Day Cartoons Reflect on War, Freedom and Washington’s Promises

By CM Chaney · May 24, 2026

Memorial Day Cartoon: Honoring the Fallen with Upside-Down Flag Protocol Satire

John Darkow's 2024 cartoon shows a simple cemetery scene with a prominent gravestone labeled 'FALLEN' and topped with a cross, accompanied by an American flag flown upside down, a signal of distress in flag protocol.  Cagle Cartoons

Trump's Sky-High Gag Order Dodge in Beach Cartoon

R.J.  Cagle Cartoons

Poll Worker Heroes Monument: A Satirical Nod to Election Dedication in 2024 Campaign

The cartoon shows a group of figures styled as a bronze statue, mimicking the famous Iwo Jima war memorial in Washington DC, where Marines raised the American flag during World War Two. Here, poll workers struggle to plant the flagpole into a box labeled 'VOTE,' with the base inscribed 'POLL WORKER HEROES.  Cagle Cartoons

Bill Day's Memorial Day Eagle Weeps for Fallen Heroes

Bill Day's cartoon shows an eagle's head painted in American flag colors, with red and white stripes curving over the feathers and a blue beak dotted with white stars. A single tear drops from the yellow eye, set against a gradient background.  Cagle Cartoons

Eagle Honors Fallen with Memorial Day Wreath

The cartoon shows a bald eagle, wings spread, placing a colorful wreath with 'WE REMEMBER' ribbon at a white gravestone marked with a seal and small American flag on green grass under a light sky. Tags like eagle, remember, honor, sacrifice, grave, and Memorial Day fit this straightforward tribute to fallen military members.  Cagle Cartoons

Uncle Sam Pays Tribute to Fallen Heroes While Pondering National Debt

Rick McKee's cartoon shows Uncle Sam in a grassy field with trees, leaning toward a gravestone inscribed Fallen Heroes, decorated with a small American flag. He holds another flag and speaks in a bubble: Speaking of a national debt....  Cagle Cartoons

Lest We Forget: Honoring War Heroes and Gun Violence Victims on Memorial Day

This political cartoon by Christopher Weyant, dated May 24, 2023, features a vast cemetery with rows of white tombstones under a clear sky. Two ornate arches divide the scene: one labeled 'Died Defending Our Freedom' and the other 'Died By Gun Violence For No Reason At All.  Cagle Cartoons

Memorial Day 2023: Gravestone Marks End of E Pluribus Unum

Bob Englehart's Memorial Day 2023 cartoon presents a stark white gravestone etched with E Pluribus Unum, the traditional U.S. motto meaning out of many, one. A miniature American flag stands planted in the grass next to it, evoking cemetery settings typical of Memorial Day observances.  Cagle Cartoons

Memorial Day: A Loyal Dog's Tribute to the Fallen

John Darkow draws a straightforward scene for Memorial Day: a gravestone labeled 'FALLEN' with a cross on top, a tiny American flag planted at its base, and a yellow dog curled up nearby on the grass, eyes closed in what looks like quiet rest. Trees frame the image, adding a peaceful outdoor setting.  Cagle Cartoons

Bald Eagle Swoops In for Memorial Day Brats Heist

Gary McCoy's cartoon captures a quintessential Memorial Day scene with a patriotic bald eagle, American flag in beak, swooping down on a family barbeque to grab bratwurst from the grill. The father, holding a fork, looks annoyed while the son points excitedly, embodying celebration and American spirit.  Cagle Cartoons

Uncle Sam Pays Tribute at Memorial Day Gravesite

Dave Granlund's cartoon shows Uncle Sam in a cemetery, head bowed, hand over heart, holding his star-spangled hat while standing before a simple gravestone adorned with a USA emblem and a tiny American flag. Dog tags dangle from his jacket, adding a touch of personal loss to the tribute.  Cagle Cartoons

Memorial Day Parades Turn into Traffic Jams in Satirical Cartoon

The cartoon depicts uniformed marchers carrying an American flag and rifles, marching in formation, while behind them, cars and an RV piled with luggage emit sounds like 'BEEP!', 'VROOM!', and 'TOOT!', illustrating how Memorial Day parades have morphed into scenes of vacations, travel, and traffic.  Cagle Cartoons

Memorial Day Tribute: Never Forget the Fallen Heroes

Guy Parsons' cartoon features bold 'Never Forget' text dominating the scene, set against a backdrop of crumbling buildings and overgrown grass. A military helmet rests on a simple cross, symbolizing fallen troops and veteran sacrifice. The patriot theme resonates with freedom and war remembrance, making it a fitting Memorial Day piece.  Cagle Cartoons

Uncle Sam Salutes on Memorial Day in Bill Day's Cartoon

Bill Day's cartoon shows Uncle Sam in his classic blue coat, red bow tie, and striped pants, saluting with hat in hand, labeled 'Memorial Day.' The image captures patriotism through the iconic figure's solemn salute, emphasizing service and sacrifice.  Cagle Cartoons

Memorial Day Tribute: Honoring the Fallen with Truman's Words

Cartoons like this one from John Darkow hit the mark on Memorial Day themes, showing a uniformed man kneeling in grass under a tree, touching a stone marked 'FALLEN' with a cross and an American flag attached. The inscription quotes Harry S.  Cagle Cartoons

Memorial Day 2020: No Social Distancing for the Fallen

John Darkow's cartoon captures a soldier kneeling before a tombstone labeled 'Fallen,' adorned with a small American flag, uttering 'No Social Distancing Required Here!' against a grassy backdrop. Dated Memorial Day 2020, it ties themes of military sacrifice, decoration day, and the coronavirus pandemic.  Cagle Cartoons

Trump Swings Away as U.S. COVID Deaths Hit 100,000 in Priggee's Satire

The cartoon depicts a large figure resembling Trump, dressed in a red cap and blue shirt, mid-golf swing over a detailed parody of the New York Times front page dated May 24, 2020. The headline screams 'U.S. DEATHS NEAR 100,000, AN INCALCULABLE LOSS,' with lists of names representing pandemic victims.  Cagle Cartoons

Trump's 'Losers and Suckers' Medals in Satirical Cartoon

In this pointed political cartoon, a high-ranking Army general, adorned with stars and ribbons, leans down to a young boy in a zigzag-patterned yellow shirt, pointing to his medals. The speech bubble reveals the medals were awarded by the president for being a 'loser' and a 'sucker.  Cagle Cartoons

Memorial Day Courage: Family Honors Veterans Amid Covid Challenges

Jeff Koterba's cartoon captures a poignant Memorial Day moment amid the Covid pandemic, where a family wearing masks stands at a gravesite adorned with an American flag. The elderly woman holds flowers and speaks of finding courage from those who showed it before, tying inspirational themes to coronavirus challenges.  Cagle Cartoons

Fallen Soldiers Lament Draft Dodger's America from Heaven

Milt Priggee's cartoon shows two soldiers as angels on a cloud, one exclaiming disbelief that they sacrificed their lives so a draft dodger could trash America, with 'Happy Memorial Day' floating nearby. Tags like Trump, trumpism, soldiers, sacrifice, war, holiday frame this pointed satire.  Cagle Cartoons

Memorials of War Dead Compared to Trump's COVID Toll

Adam Zyglis draws a stark comparison in this Memorial Day cartoon, placing the black wall of the Vietnam memorial with 58,220 US dead next to Korean War statues listing 33,686 casualties, all under a 'Memorials...' sign.  Cagle Cartoons

Uncle Sam at the COVID-19 Memorial Wall

The cartoon shows Uncle Sam, dressed in stars and stripes with a white mask, walking beside a vast black wall inscribed with 'COVID-19 DEATHS' and countless names, stretching toward the Washington Monument at sunset. Green fields and a chain fence line the path.  Cagle Cartoons

Empty Boots Stand in Silent Tribute on Memorial Day

Dave Granlund's cartoon depicts a solemn row of empty military boots planted on grassy ground, interspersed with tiny American flags waving gently. It's a straightforward nod to Memorial Day, focusing on the sacrifice of fallen soldiers without any bells or whistles.  Cagle Cartoons

Gold Star Families: The Welcome That Never Comes

Dave Granlund's cartoon captures a quiet suburban scene where a 'Welcome Home' sign hangs forlornly by a tree, tied with yellow ribbons, next to a house flying a Gold Star flag. A lone dog sits on the driveway with a red ball, emphasizing absence. The overhead text 'Many Never Return...  Cagle Cartoons

Honoring the Fallen: A Soldier's Tribute on Memorial Day

Dave Granlund's cartoon captures a WWII soldier in uniform, head bowed, placing a dog tag before a rifle topped with a helmet on a dirt mound strewn with debris. The scene evokes casualty, service, and sacrifice in battle, with the American flag waving prominently in the background, its stripes blending into a smoky trail.  Cagle Cartoons