Memorial
Day Facts
Memorial
Day was originally known as Decoration Day.
The
holiday began as a way to honor soldiers who died in the Civil War,
but the day now honors all U.S. veterans who have sacrificed their
lives.
There’s
a specific way to display the American
flag on
Memorial Day, according to the U.S.
Flag Code:
hoist the flag quickly up to full staff at sunrise, then lower to
half-staff until noon, and then return to the top of the staff.
Many
veterans, as well as friends and family of veterans, make
a pilgrimage
to
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., over Memorial Day
weekend.
In
1971, Memorial Day was
established
as
a federal holiday taking place on the last Monday in May.
Poppies
have become a symbol
of
Memorial Day because they are mentioned in a 1915 poem by Canadian
soldier John McCrae, “In Flanders Fields.”
Many
Americans mark
Memorial
Day with an official moment of remembrance at 3 p.m. local time.
During
the 3 p.m. moment of remembrance on Memorial Day, Amtrak conductors
sound
one long whistle
in
honor of those who have died in service.
Traditionally,
American presidents give a Memorial Day speech at Arlington National
Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
New
York was the first
state
to
recognize Memorial Day as an official holiday.
Some
Southern states celebrate a Confederate Memorial Day, or Confederate
Heroes Day, in late April, remembering the Confederate soldiers who
died during the Civil War.
The
first Indianapolis 500 race took place on Memorial Day in 1911.
The
Lincoln Memorial was dedicated by then-Chief Justice William Taft on
Memorial Day in 1922.
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