Memorial Day is coming up, and for many of our members, the significance of the day might not hold any meaning beyond a day off of school, and the official start of summer. Memorial Day is much more than annual parades and barbecues. Memorial Day is an American holiday that honors the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. military. 

Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War, officially becoming a federal holiday in 1971. The Civil War ended in the spring of 1865, and claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history. So many lives were lost during this time that it required the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries. In the late 1860s, Americans began holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers. Now, it is common for communities to hold parades with American flags and patriotic music. Loved ones still visit the gravesites to hang wreaths and flags. Each Memorial Day there is a national moment of remembrance that occurs at 3:00pm, local time.

For decades, Memorial Day was observed on May 30th, the date of the first Decoration Day. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which set Memorial Day as the last Monday in May. They did this to create a three day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 197, and this same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday! 

So, while you’re enjoying your Memorial Day traditions and day off from school, be sure to take a moment to remember all of the veterans who gave their lives for this country.