Memorial Day Resources

Memorial Day is an American holiday honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and In 1971, it became an official federal holiday by an act of Congress; it is now celebrated annually on the last Monday in May.

Memorial Day commemorates men and women who died while in military service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL who have served—in wartime or peacetime—regardless of whether they died or survived.

Cities and towns across the United States host Memorial Day parades each year, often incorporating military personnel and members of veterans’ organizations. Americans also observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials. Some people wear a red poppy in remembrance of those fallen in war, a tradition that began with a World War I poem. Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer.