Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military, with its origins rooted in the post-Civil War era.
Here are some key facts about Memorial Day:
• Origin: The holiday emerged in the years following the Civil War as a way for communities to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers.
• Early Observances: The first Memorial Day observance was on May 30, 1868, with a national commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery, where 5,000 people helped decorate the graves of more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers.
• Official Recognition: While communities began observing Memorial Day locally, it wasn’t officially recognized as a federal holiday until 1971.
• Name Change: The holiday, which was originally known as “Decoration Day,” later became “Memorial Day” after World War I, expanding its focus to include those who died in all U.S. wars.
• Traditions: Common traditions include visiting cemeteries and memorials, participating in parades, and holding family gatherings.
• Waterloo, N.Y.: President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., as the “Birthplace of Memorial Day” because of its citywide observance on May 5, 1866.
• Uniform Monday Holiday Act: In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as a federal holiday on the last Monday of May, which went into effect in 1971.
Did you know that we have a Flag Depository in the clubhouse lobby for the collection of old U.S. flags that need to be retired? Has your flag become tattered or torn? You can drop it off in the box and it will be disposed of respectfully.
