Memorial Day 2024 Today: What is Memorial Day and Why it is celebrated?

Memorial Day 2024: Memorial Day is a holiday that honors the brave Americans who have died while serving in the military. The day was originally known as “Decoration Day” because mourners decorated the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers after the Civil War. However, in addition to honoring the heroes who made the American dream of independence possible, the day also marks the “unofficial” start of summer.

What is Memorial Day? Why is it celebrated?

Memorial Day, as the name implies, is a holiday that honors soldiers who have died in the service of their country. Memorial Day was first celebrated nationwide on May 30, 1868. The holiday, then known as Decoration Day, was declared by John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, to honor Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. However, in 2022, the National Cemetery Administration, a division of the Department of Veterans Affairs, attributed the idea of ​​”laying flowers on the graves of Civil War soldiers” to Mary Ann Williams.

For many years, May 30 was celebrated as Memorial Day. But in order to provide a three-day weekend for government workers, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968, which moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. It was later declared a federal holiday in 1971.

How is Memorial Day celebrated?

On Memorial Day, many people visit cemeteries and place American flags on the graves of service members. Every year, cities and towns across the country hold large Memorial Day parades, often attended by veterans and military personnel. New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., host some of the largest parades. Americans also visit cemeteries and monuments, and some hold or wear red poppies to honor those who died in war. This custom began during World War I. Weekends of traveling and partying are also part of Memorial Day celebrations to lift spirits and celebrate the arrival of summer.

Remember to place flowers on the graves of friends or family members who have passed away while serving our country. They gave everything for us. Memorial Day greetings!

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