Reason Memorial Day Is Celebrated

The date for Memorial Day changes every year, but the official holiday is always celebrated on the last Monday in May. This year, Memorial Day is celebrated in the United States on May 30, 2022. The date is not the same for other countries. They commemorate their fallen and wounded military men and women on different days during the year.

Memorial Day was designed exclusively to remember and honor all men and women who died or were wounded while serving in the military for their country. That description does not include those who served in the military without being killed or wounded, and it does not include the death of civilians.

Today, people have a long list of things they do to celebrate Memorial Day, including visiting cemeteries and memorials to honor loved ones and relatives who have died even though they did not die or were wounded while serving in the military. It is acceptable to do that if people want to do it, but that is not the reason the day became a legal holiday.

About Memorial Day

The federal holiday had another name before it came to be known as Memorial Day. The Civil War was the deadliest conflict in American history that claimed about 620,000 men and women, according to the United States National Archives website. The Civil War ended in 1865. On May 5, 1868, General John Logan called for a nationwide day of remembrance. It was called Decoration Day, and the observance was on May 30th, 1868. The celebration continued on that date until 1968 when Congress passed the Uniform Holiday Act which allowed for Memorial Day to be observed on the last Monday in May so federal employees could have a three-day weekend. The change went into effect in 1971 even though the last Monday does not always fall on May 30. The same law also declared Memorial Day to be an official federal holiday.

The earlier date that Memorial Day will come in the future is on May 25, 2026, and the latest date that Memorial Day will be celebrated is on May 31, 2027.

Memorial Day marks the beginning of the unofficial summer vacation season even though summer really doesn't start until June 21, according to the calendar. People use the long weekend to travel, go to beaches, and enjoy pools around the city that officially open on Memorial Day and remain available for use until Labor Day.

Some traditions take place on Memorial Day. The most solemn tradition happens when the President of the United States, or his designee, places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to mark the national observance of Memorial Day, Veterans Day, or another special occasion.

Traditionally on Memorial Day, a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time.

Another tradition is that the American flag is raised to the top of the staff before being lowered to half staff. It stays in that position until noon. It is then raised to full staff for the remainder of Memorial Day.

Why does the flag change positions on Memorial Day?

When the flag is at half staff, it means the country is in remembrance of all the men and women who died or were wounded for their country.

The raised flag at noon signifies that the nation lives and those who gave their lives did not do so in vain. Like the flag, the country rises up in their honor.

About Veterans Day

Some people confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day which is always observed on November 11 no matter which day of the week it falls on. That legal federal holiday honors ALL who served in the military and those who are still serving while Memorial Day honors all who died in the service or were wounded while serving.