Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States that honors members of the military who died while serving our country. However, it wasn’t always called Memorial Day, and some are unaware of the history behind the holiday.
Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May. This year it is on May 27, and future dates for the holiday will each come a day earlier until 2027.
When was the first Memorial Day?
John A. Logan, a general in the Union Army in the American Civil War, proclaimed the day as Decoration Day, calling on the public to decorate the graves of Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield gave a speech at the Arlington National Cemetery, where 5,000 participants strewed flowers upon the graves of the dead.
Memorial Day can sometimes be confused with other holidays commemorating members of the U.S. military, like Veterans Day or Armed Forces Day, which is earlier in May.
How is Memorial Day observed?
American flags are usually flown at half-staff on Memorial Day, along with many ceremonies and parades planned each year across the U.S.
While the holiday isn’t the official beginning of summer, most people feel Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the season due to warming weather and students entering summer break.