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Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day is now celebrated on the last Monday in May as a day to remember all the U.S. soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of our country.
 

In 1868, Decoration Day, was first recognized as a holiday in order to honor those who died during the Civil War. After General James Garfield spoke at the first Decoration Day ceremony in the Arlington National Cemetery, 5,000 volunteers lent a hand in decorating the graves of over 20,000 soldiers buried there by placing flowers and flags over their graves.
 

Toward the end of the 1800s, numerous communities throughout the United States began celebrating Memorial Day.
 

In 1966, the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, as the official hometown of Memorial Day due to the fact that this town made Memorial Day an annual commemoration day. Businesses stayed closed for the day and all the locals bedecked the graves of the soldiers with flags and flowers.
 

In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday to be held on the last Monday of May. It is customary for either the president or vice-president to deliver a speech in the Arlington National Cemetery, during which the slain soldiers are honored. He then places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers wherein lies an unknown soldier from WWI, an unknown soldier from WWII, an unknown soldier from the Korean War and until 1998, an unknown soldier from the Vietnam War are buried.
 

Let us never forget all those who have given up their lives for the sake of freedom.

God Bless America!

Filed under: History • General • Holiday

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