All About Memorial Day
Memorial Day is coming up, and many people are making plans to celebrate at home or go away for the 3-day holiday weekend. The American holiday is observed on the last Monday of May and marks the beginning of the summer season. This year, it will be on Monday, May 30, 2022.
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for all the brave men and women killed while serving in the United States military. But while this annual holiday is observed every year, some people may not know its history and why it is essential to acknowledge it.
History of Memorial Day
First known as Decoration Day, the holiday originated back in the post-Civil War era. The Civil War was the deadliest battle in American history, as about 620,000 men lost their lives. According to U.S. National Archives, the number represented nearly 2 percent of the total population at the time.
After the Civil War ended in 1865, General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic asked for a day to remember those who lost their lives defending their country and selected May 30 as the first Decoration Day. By the late 1860s, Americans across the nation began honoring the fallen heroes by decorating their graves with flags, flowers, and wreaths every May 30.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed in 1968, establishing the last Monday in May as Memorial Day instead of May 30. The change took effect in 1971, and Memorial Day became an official federal holiday.
Memorial Day soon evolved to commemorate American soldiers who died in all the wars, including World War I & II, the Vietnam and Korean wars, and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Memorial Day Rituals and Traditions
Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act in 2000 to encourage the country to observe a moment of silence at 3 p.m. to remember and honor those who have died in the wars. American flags are usually held at half-staff from dawn until noon on Memorial Day, and U.S. presidents traditionally make a speech at the Arlington National Cemetery.
Other traditions include celebrating the holiday with barbecue cookouts, parades, road trips, visiting cemeteries, religious services, speeches, and laying flowers and wreaths on the graves of fallen soldiers.
Ways You Can Celebrate Memorial Day
Many Americans will commemorate this Memorial Day with BBQs, picnics, and a day at the lake with friends and family. But Memorial Day was initially established for us to honor those who died while serving our country.
To remember the fallen soldiers, here are some ways you can celebrate this Memorial Day.
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Attend A Ceremony: Many cities hold parades and ceremonies on Memorial Day, with some events concluding with a memorial service.
- Fly a Flag: It has been a tradition on Memorial Day to decorate graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and fly the flag at half-staff until noon. If you have a flag pole, consider flying a flag this year.
- Thank a Veteran: It is a wonderful time to thank veterans or current soldiers for their service. If you want to do more, consider writing a letter to a veteran or soldier.
- Buy A Poppy: Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) accept donations for poppies. Disabled veterans in VA hospitals have been creating Buddy Poppies since 1924. When you buy a poppy, your donation will help maintain veterans’ state and national service programs.
- Participate in a Moment of Silence: To ensure Memorial Day is the sacred holiday it is intended to be, everyone is encouraged to pause for one minute wherever you are at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day.
Sacramento Accident and Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, an accident and injury lawyer in Sacramento. Memorial Day is the perfect time to relax with friends and family as we celebrate the holiday. However, the holiday weekend can cause deadly crashes on California roads. According to statistics, more people die in traffic accidents over the three-day Memorial Day weekend than any other holiday weekend.
If you suffered a serious injury in an accident, our experienced Sacramento injury lawyers can help you recover compensation for your damages. Call us today at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
We are members of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Take a look at our successful verdict and settlement cases.
Image from Pixabay by Keturah Moller
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