05/25/2026
Today, in the United States of America, we honor our military sevicemen and women who have died. The holiday traces its roots back to the aftermath of the Civil War.
Memorial Day was originally known as "Decoration Day". It began as a springtime tradition where communities decorated the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, wreaths, and flags.
On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan declared the first widespread observance, which was held at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30.
After World War I, the day was expanded to honor American service members who lost their lives in all wars, rather than just the Civil War.
In 1971, Congress passed The Uniform Monday Holiday Act, officially declaring Memorial Day a federal holiday and moved it to the last Monday in May to create a three-day weekend.
Flag Etiquette: Flags are flown at half-staff until noon, and then raised to full staff for the remainder of the day. Then, at 3:00pm local time, all Americans are encouraged to pause for a minute of silence to reflect on the ultimate sacrifices made by service members.
Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day:
It is common to confuse the two, but they serve different purposes. Memorial Day is strictly for honoring those who died in military service, while Veterans Day (November 11) honors all U.S. military veterans, especially those who are still living.
