5 Things You Need to Know
Five Things You Need to Know About Memorial Day
From the holiday's founding to efforts to end the three-day weekend, learn more about Memorial Day.
Today, Memorial Day, is one of America’s most solemn observances. We honor the men and women who died serving and defending our country—unlike Veterans Day, the day to honor all veterans. Amid the parades, 21-gun salutes and long weekend trips, how much do you know the holiday? Here are five Memorial Day facts. 1. The sheer carnage of the Civil War, America’s deadliest war, inspired Memorial Day as a way to honor the war dead. The observances originally were called Decoration Day because thankful Americans decorated and cared for soldiers’ graves. “Memorial Day” usage began appearing in 1882, but “Decoration Day” was common until post-World War II. Congress officially changed the name in 1967. 2. This year’s Memorial Day falls on the same …
jps
10:14 am on Monday, May 30, 2011
I suspect that anyone that posts disparaging remarks about our country on a day like today lacks the perspective to truly appreciate all the freedoms we enjoy in this great country of ours. Thank you to all the fallen heros, who helped defend our freedoms. Thankfully I have traveled to enough other countries, seen enough other ways of life, to know with out a shadow of a doubt there is no place I… more ›