In more recent history, Memorial Day marked the start of the private summer. Family grills, local pools announce their opening day and retailers promote big sales.
While everyone wants to celebrate freely, Americans should also remember that this holiday is truly a sobering time to pause and reflect as a nation.
WHAT IS MEMORIAL DAY OR MEMORIAL DAY?
The holiday falls annually on the last Monday in May and is a day dedicated to honoring US military personnel who have died serving in the US armed forces.
More than 1.3 million Americans paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
When did he celebrate his first birthday?
Memorial Day was originally called “Decoration Day.” In 1869, the leader of the Union Veterans Association, Major General John A. Logan, established the day of decoration as a way for the nation to honor the monuments of those who died in the Civil War with flowers, according to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
There is debate as to which city was the birthplace of Memorial Day, although the first major observance was held at Arlington National Cemetery in 1868 for a population of approximately 5,000.
In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, the official “birthday” holiday according to the VA.
This is the second day when the most beer is consumed, after the 4th of July.
WHY CHOOSE 30?
Logan is believed to have chosen May 30 as the day to celebrate Decoration Day because of the spring flowers across the country, according to the VA.
Although there was a future report of the official date of Memorial Day, at the end of the 19th century, the legislators announced the state and named the day May 30 as a holiday.
When was the covenant declared a holiday?
In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday, considering it to be a Monday in May. According to the VA, the day was expanded to honor all those who died in American wars.
In December 2000, Congress intervened and the President enacted the “National Momentum Removal” law, so that those who sacrificed their lives for their country would be forgotten.
HOW TO OBSERVE MEMORIAL DAY?
At three o’clock in the afternoon local time, Americans are asked to participate in a moment of National Remembrance, a time to pause for a moment of silence to honor those who have died serving America.
Editor’s note: A version of this story originally ran in 2022.
