Observed on the last Monday of May, this United States federal holiday was formerly known as Decoration Day. It commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country.
In 1868 U.S. General John Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued an official order to place flowers on graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery and the practice soon spread to cemetaries in all the northern states. Southern states observed a different day for their Civil War casualties and several states still have a separate day honoring Confederate soldiers.
On June 19, 1926, Congress designated May 30 as Memorial Day, establishing a national holiday extending the honor of America’s military fallen to all who have perished on the battlefield in service to country during all wars and conflicts. In 1971, Congress passed the National Holiday Act to establish a three day weekend for federal holidays. Since that year, Memorial Day has been observed on the last Monday in May.
Memorial Day is often observed by visiting cemeteries and memorials, and decorating gravesites with flowers. Volunteers place U.S. flags upon each gravesite in national or military cemeteries. The U.S. flag is flown at half-staff from dawn until noon local time in many locations.
