Memorial Day: Quick Facts to Reflect & Remember

Memorial Day: More Than Just BBQs

Memorial Day is often seen as the unofficial start of summer—a time for cookouts, beach trips, and long weekends. But its true purpose runs far deeper. Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was established to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States military.

Quick Facts to Reflect & Remember:

It Honors the Fallen - Memorial Day specifically honors U.S. military members who died in service, not all veterans (that’s Veterans Day).

It Began After the Civil War - Originally called Decoration Day, it started in the late 1860s to honor Union soldiers killed in the Civil War.

First National Observance - The first widely recognized national observance took place on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery.

It Became a Federal Holiday in 1971 - Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday and fixed to the last Monday in May as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

The Red Poppy Is a Symbol of Remembrance - Red poppies symbolize the sacrifice of fallen soldiers.

Flags Fly at Half-Staff Until Noon - On Memorial Day, U.S. flags are flown at half-staff until noon, then raised to full-staff.

Arlington Hosts 400,000+ Graves - Arlington National Cemetery, a central site of Memorial Day observances, is the resting place of over 400,000 U.S. service members.