What is Memorial Day?

The holiday takes place annually on the last Monday in May and is a dedicated day for honoring the over 1.3 million U.S. military personnel who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States armed forces.

In recent history, Memorial Day has also meant the unofficial start to summer. Employees are excuses from work allowing the time for families to hold BBQ’s, the local pool announces its opening day, and retailers promote big sales.

While everyone has the freedom to celebrate as they choose, Americans should also remember that this holiday is really a somber occasion to pause and reflect as a nation.

When was Memorial Day first celebrated?

Memorial Day was originally called “Decoration Day.” On May 30 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans, Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, established Decoration Day as a way for the nation to honor the graves of those who died in the Civil War with flowers, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

What state first celebrated Memorial Day?

There are debates over which city was the origin place of Memorial Day, although the first large observation was held at Arlington National Cemetery for a crowd of about 5,000 in 1868. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York the official “birthplace” of the holiday, according to the Veterans Administration (VA).

When was it declared a federal holiday?

In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday, placing it as the last Monday in May. According to the VA, the day was expanded to honor all those who have died in American wars. In December 2000, Congress passed and the president signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” to ensure those who sacrificed their lives for the country were not forgotten.