Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day began after the Civil War as a way to honor Union soldiers who had died in the conflict.
The holiday’s name came from the tradition of decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. After World War I, it evolved to commemorate all American military personnel who died in any war or military action.
Today, it is observed as Memorial Day and serves as a solemn tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States.
Over time, Memorial Day became a day of national reflection and is now also seen as the unofficial start of summer.
When Is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is now observed on the last Monday in May. Originally, however, it was held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week.
In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act which moved several federal holidays, including Memorial Day, to designated Mondays—creating three-day weekends for federal workers.
The change officially took effect in 1971, establishing the final Monday in May as Memorial Day. Still, it took time for all states to adopt the new observance, and even today, some states continue to recognize Decoration Day in their laws or traditions, reflecting the holiday’s historical roots.
Read more HERE… thanks to https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-historyhttps://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history