The real Memorial Day
A day for remembrance
Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed annually in the United States on the last Monday of May. Memorial Day, which was first used in 1882, is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War. By the 20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died in all wars.
Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.
The practice of decorating soldiers' graves with flowers is an ancient custom. Soldiers' graves were decorated in the U.S. before and during the U.S. Civil War.
On Memorial Day the flag is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.
A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 pm local time.
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| Civil War vets. Memorial Day 1920 |
The Veterans of Foreign Wars, among other groups, has sought to restore the May 30 date for Memorial Day. The VFW has said, "Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed a lot to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day."
Information obtained from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_day, and other sources. No copyright infringement intended. For educational purposes only.
House-Wise
"Make yourself at home"
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