The verb commemorate means to remember officially and give respect to a person or an event by means of special action, ceremony, or specially-created object.
Synonyms are honor, salute, celebrate, or observe.
The word origins from Latin (1590s) commemoratus, past participle of commemorare meaning “bring to remembrance”. It comes from com-, here probably an intensive prefix, plus memorare meaning “to remind”, from memor meaning “mindful of”.
They celebrated a feast to commemorate their ancestors’ liberation from slavery.
Throughout the years, celebrations have been held to commemorate his heroic acts.
The annual parade commemorates the heroes who died in World War I.