memorial day

     

Memorial Day is a Unite States Federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (in 2008 on May 26). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who perished while in military service to their country. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War, it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action.

Trivia about memorial day

  • Decoration Day is another name for this holiday when graves of soldiers are decorated
  • Backyard BBQ season starts on the weekend of this holiday, the last Monday in May
  • In most states, this holiday is observed on the last Monday in May
  • The first national observance of this holiday took place May 30, 1868
  • ...as the U.S. holiday Decoration Day
  • On this holiday, the flag flies at half-staff from sunrise to noon, & at full-staff from noon to sunset
  • On the Friday before this holiday, soldiers in the 3rd U.S. Infantry place flags on graves at Arlington
  • One of the first observations of this U.S. holiday was May 30, 1868 on the order of General John Logan
  • This holiday began in 1868 when a general designated a day to adorn the graves of the Civil War dead
  • Waterloo, N.Y. is the birthplace of this holiday, having first honored the Civil War dead May 5, 1866
  • John Logan, a volunteer who rose to Union general, helped establish this observance to honor war dead
  • On this holiday, the U.S. flag flies at half-staff from sunrise to noon & at full staff from noon to sunset
  • Mississippi celebrates a version of this holiday the last Monday in April to honor Confederate dead
  • Thou shalt not wear white shoes from Labor Day til this holiday first officially observed in 1868
  • On this holiday, the flag is displayed at half staff until noon & then at full staff until sunset
  • Though it's 3 to 4 weeks before the start of summer, this holiday is often said to begin the summer driving season