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5d ago

Memorial Day Observances Highlight Sacrifice and Tradition

Communities across the U.S. honor fallen soldiers with ceremonies, while flag protocols and reflections on the holiday's evolution take center stage.

Boy Scouts with the Western Los Angeles County Boys Scouts of America Council, help place flags on nearly 90,000 grave sites for Memorial Day at the Los Angeles National Cemetery on Saturday, May 25, 2024. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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Overview

  • Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, was established to honor Civil War dead and later expanded to commemorate all U.S. military fatalities.
  • The holiday is observed on the last Monday in May, following a 1968 Congressional act that created a three-day weekend for Americans.
  • Flag etiquette on Memorial Day includes flying the U.S. flag at half-staff until noon and then raising it to full-staff until sunset, symbolizing remembrance and resilience.
  • Waterloo, New York, officially recognized as the birthplace of Memorial Day, held its first ceremonies to honor Civil War veterans in 1866.
  • Some argue that the holiday has shifted focus, becoming more associated with leisure and the unofficial start of summer rather than solemn remembrance.