Memorial Day

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Memorial Day at Vicksburg National Cemetery in Mississippi
Memorial Day Parade 2019 at the Presidio of San Francisco

The Memorial Day (translated Remembrance Day ) is a US -American holiday in May in honor of the war for their country every year on the last Monday Fallen is committed.

Memorial Day goes back to the American Civil War . 1868 called General John A. Logan to May 30 from a day of remembrance, at that time as "Decoration Day". In 1882 the day was officially declared a public holiday as Memorial Day. Originally, the dead soldiers of the civil war were commemorated on this day; after the First World War , all American war dead were included. In 1971, Nixon's Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May for a long weekend .

Traditionally, military cemeteries and memorials are visited on this day. The US flag will be hoisted at half mast until noon . Volunteers decorate all the graves in the national cemeteries with small flags.

The day also marks the start of the summer season. A picnic in a park or a visit to an outdoor pool is also a way to celebrate the day. The Indianapolis 500 auto race always takes place on Memorial Day weekend. Many outdoor pools open the bathing season on Memorial Day. The hotel and hospitality industry in high and low season regions often increases room rates from Memorial Day, while school holidays typically don't start until a week or two later.

Memorial Day for the fallen is complemented by Veterans Day in November to honor all veterans of the US military.

Web links

Commons : Memorial Day  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Memorial Day. In: usmemorialday.org. Retrieved May 31, 2021 (American English).