Memorial Day

Memorial Day Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed annually on the last Monday of May (May 28 in 2012). [1] Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil... More

Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed annually on the last
Monday of May (May 28 in 2012).
[1]
Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after
the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War.

(Southern ladies organizations and southern schoolchildren had decorated Confederate
graves in Richmond and other cities during the Civil War, but each region had its own date.

Most dates were in May.
) By the 20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all
Americans who have died in all wars.
Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and
women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
[2]
As a marker it typically
marks the start of the summer vacation season, whileLabor Day marks its end.

By the early 20th century, Memorial Day was an occasion for more general expressions of
memory, as people visited the graves of their deceased relatives, whether they had served in
the military or not.
It also Less