Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is an American holiday observed on the last Monday in May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the United States military.
Memorial Day originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, the leader of an organization for Northern Civil War Veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance on May 30, 1868. The original date of Decoration Day was chosen because it was not the anniversary of any particular battle.
By 1890, each state held similar commemorative events and made “Decoration Day” an official state holiday. In 1968, one hundred years after General Logan observed the first Decoration Day, Congress passed the Uniform Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May. This change went into effect across America in 1971.
On May 25, 2020, the United States will celebrate Memorial Day in honor of those men and women sacrificing their lives for our freedom. So, whether you decorate a soldiers grave or celebrate their sacrifice with family and friends, make sure you thank a soldier this Memorial Day.
Happy Memorial Day!
May 25, 2020