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5d ago

Memorial Day 2025 Balances Solemn Tributes with Leisure Activities

Observed on May 26 this year, Memorial Day continues to honor fallen service members while marking the unofficial start of summer.

FILE - A member of the Army visits Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Va., Monday, May 27, 2024, on Memorial Day. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
FILE - Kim Hoan Nguyen, of Falls Church, Va., who is originally from Vietnam, touches her son's gravestone next to ritual offerings in the Vietnamese tradition at the gravesite of her son, Marine Corporal Binh N Le, who died serving in Iraq in 2004, in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Va., Monday, May 27, 2024, on Memorial Day. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
FILE - Krista Meinert, of Racine, Wisc., looks at a photo of her son, Marine Lance Corporal Jacob Alexander Meinert, 20, that she attached to his gravestone in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Va., Monday, May 27, 2024, on Memorial Day. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
FILE - Families visit Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Va., Monday, May 27, 2024, in honor of Memorial Day. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Overview

  • Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, began in 1868 to honor Union soldiers who died in the Civil War and now commemorates all U.S. military personnel who died in service.
  • The holiday is observed on the last Monday of May, with this year’s date falling on May 26, and includes the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time.
  • Communities nationwide will host events such as parades, wreath presentations, and cemetery ceremonies, emphasizing reflection and respect for fallen heroes.
  • Despite its solemn origins, Memorial Day has evolved into the unofficial start of summer, marked by travel, barbecues, and widespread retail promotions.
  • Veterans and organizations stress the importance of preserving the holiday’s meaning, urging Americans to balance leisure with moments of remembrance and education.