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Memorial Day

For other uses, see Memorial Day (disambiguation).
"Decoration Day" redirects here. For other uses, see Decoration Day (disambiguation).

Memorial Day
Arlington National Cemetery graves decorated with flags during Memorial Day weekend
Observed byUnited States
TypeFederal
Significance
  • Honors U.S. military personnel who died in service
  • Unofficial beginning of summer
ObservancesDecoration of military graves with American flags
DateLast Monday in May
2023 dateMay 29  (2023-05-29)
2024 dateMay 27
2025 dateMay 26
2026 dateMay 25  (2026-05-25)
FrequencyAnnual
First timeMay 30, 1868

Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day[1]) is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.[2] From 1868 to 1970, it was observed on May 30.[3] Since 1971, it is observed on the last Monday of May.

Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day to honor and mourn those who died while serving in the U.S. military. Many volunteers place American flags on the graves of military personnel in national cemeteries. Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial beginning of summer.[4]

The first national observance of Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868.[5] Then known as Decoration Day, the holiday was proclaimed by Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic to honor the Union soldiers who had died in the Civil War.[6] This national observance was preceded by many local ones between the end of the Civil War and Logan's declaration. Many cities and people have claimed to be the first to observe it. However, the National Cemetery Administration, a division of the Department of Veterans Affairs, credits Mary Ann Williams with originating the "idea of strewing the graves of Civil War soldiers—Union and Confederate" with flowers.[7]

Official recognition as a holiday spread among the states, beginning with New York in 1873.[7] By 1890, every Union state had adopted it. The world wars turned it into a day of remembrance for all members of the U.S. military who fought and died in service. In 1971, Congress standardized the holiday as "Memorial Day" and changed its observance to the last Monday in May.

Two other days celebrate those who have served or are serving in the U.S. military: Armed Forces Day (which is earlier in May), an unofficial U.S. holiday for honoring those currently serving in the armed forces, and Veterans Day (on November 11), which honors all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.[8]

  1. ^ "Memorial Day". History.com. May 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Memorial Day". United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  3. ^ 36 U.S.C. § 116
  4. ^ Yan, Holly (May 26, 2016). "Memorial Day 2016: What You Need to Know". CNN. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  5. ^ "Today in History - May 30". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  6. ^ "Memorial Day Order". Cem.va.gov. National Cemetery Administration. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Memorial Day History". National Cemetery Administration of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  8. ^ Kickler, Sarah (May 28, 2012). "Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2014.