paul gionfriddo, thank you so much for being with us. and we'll be back in a moment. 's 1958.has been the most difficult of all the challenges i've experienced. [voice of male] the chili bowl really has never closed in our history. people come here to see the photos on the wall, to meet the family. you couldn't have that experience anymore. so, we had to pivot. there's no magic formula, but it's been really helpful to keep people updated on googl. we wouldn't be here without our wonderful customers. we do get so much support and so much love from them. [voice of female] i don't have to come every day at my age, but i come because i love people. [female voices soulfully singing “come on in”] that's why i come to ben's. >> dickerson: before we releave today, we want to thank a long time member of the "face the nation" member for her service. pat conny is retiring after almost 30 years. she served in the navy during vietnam, and began her career in journal aismism at the army times. pat kept all of us on our toes here at "face the nation." we will miss her and her devotion to the

about a groundbreaking new study that looks at the toll covid-19 has taken our mental health with paul gionfriddo. it is all ahead on "face the nation." ♪ >> dickerson: good morning, and welcome to "face the nation." this memorial day weekend, where we honor those americans lost in wars fought to protect our country. despite the sobering holiday, america's spirit is on the rise. our senior national correspondent mark strassmann begins our coverage today from atanta. >> the park is now closed. >> reporter: sure, maybe these partiers in washington state over did it overnight. but you can also see why: america is breaking a year long case of cabin fever. >> i'm glad the masks are coming off. we're going to head up to the lake. >> reporter: millions more are hitting the road. 37 million of us will travel more than 60 miles from home, that's a 60% jump from memorial day 202. on this weekend last year, pandemic gloom darkened every phase of american life. the vaccine was still months away. masking had become a must for millions. as a crisis, covid was only worsening. new cases trended up in 29 states.