Let’s learn what Memorial Day means.
Especially for veterans, it’s important to recognize the difference between Veterans Day and this federal holiday. Learn why it was originally called Decoration Day, why the red poppy is a symbol, and when the flag should be flown.
What is the date of Memorial Day in 2023?
On the last Monday of May, this U.S. federal holiday honors military service members who have died in service. The holiday was formerly known as Decoration Day.
Memorial Day 2023: When Is It?
On the last Monday of May, the U.S. federal holiday honors those who have died while serving in the armed forces. It used to be called Decoration Day.
2023 Monday, May 29
2024 Monday, May 27
2025 Monday, May 26
2026 Monday, May 25
Memorial Day commemorates the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces, particularly those who died in battle or due to battle wounds. Memorial Day commemorates veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
When veterans are thanked on this day, they may find it disconcerting. The time is dedicated to remembering the lives lost and those who were unable to return home. It might be helpful to consider how we might support and safeguard their grieving families and loved ones, as well as why we, the living, have the luxury and freedom we have today.
All veterans, whether they served during wartime or peacetime, are honored on Veterans Day, Which differs from Memorial Day, regardless of whether they died or survived. No matter what day of the week it falls on, Veterans Day is always observed on November 11.
“Old Glory” flies
There is a unique flag etiquette on Memorial Day. Flags should be raised briskly to full staff at sunrise, then lowered to half staff until noon. The American flag should be flown according to the guidelines
A small American flag is typically placed on each grave site at national cemeteries on Memorial Day (U.S.). Memorial Day ceremonies are held at 3 p.m. in each region. You can place flags in local cemeteries; many organizations welcome volunteers. Visit your local American Legion post, Daughters of the American Revolution, Boy Scout troop, or the V.F.W. for more information.
Here are some facts and history about Memorial Day
It is a tradition in many cultures around the world to maintain cemeteries and decorate graves to honor ancestors. A picnic or family reunion was often an occasion for this activity in early rural America.
There was never a morbid element to visiting family graves and memorials. In addition to cleaning and decorating family memorials, it was an annual act of remembrance. In crowded cities, cemeteries were often the only green spaces for families to picnic.
Since the American Civil War, Memorial Day was called Decoration Day. Southern states decorated both Confederate and Union soldiers’ graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags, which is thought to be the inspiration for the tradition of honoring the dead.
A number of cities and towns claim to be the first to observe Decoration Day. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, the birthplace of Decoration Day after a community-wide event on May 5, 1866.
As a result of the suggestion of a veteran, General Order No. 11, was issued by the Grand Army of the Republic’s commander-in-chief on May 5, 1868. The 30th of May is designated as a day of remembrance. There was widespread interest in the idea.
In towns and cities across the nation, monuments were raised and ceremonies were held in order to decorate the graves of soldiers killed during the Civil War.
Decoration Day was extended to all fallen soldiers after World War I, not just those from the Civil War, and the term “Memorial Day” was coined. In the wake of World War II, the term Memorial Day became more common throughout different states, which adopted resolutions to make it an official holiday.
By an act of Congress, Memorial Day finally became a national holiday in 1971. To create three-day weekends, a few federal holidays were moved to Mondays in 1971 through the 1968 Uniform Monday Holiday Act; Memorial Day was scheduled for the last Monday in May.
If you’re not familiar with the Civil War, you might want to check out the Library of Congress’s collection of more than a thousand Civil War photographs to brush up on your knowledge.
What Is The Meaning Of The Poppy On Memorial Day?
It was the red field poppy (Papaver rhoeas) that was the first plant to reappear on the battlefields of Europe following the First World War. The seeds had been scattered by the wind and sat dormant in the ground, only germinating when disturbed by the brutal fighting of World War 1.
The famous poem “In Flanders Fields” was written by Canadian soldier and physician John McCrae in 1915 after witnessing the war firsthand. His artillery position in Belgium was surrounded by poppies scattered throughout the battlefield.
‘Poppy Lady’
A professor named Moina Michael, who was inspired by McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields,” wrote her own poem in November 1918, “We Shall Keep the Faith,” days before the war officially ended. She mentioned wearing the “poppy red” as a way of honoring the dead in her poem and thus began the tradition of wearing a single red poppy to commemorate the war dead. Moina was known as “The Poppy Lady” and was honored for her efforts.
Symbolism spreads worldwide
Traditionally, poppies are worn on Memorial Day, but today, poppies can also be worn on Veterans Day, since the symbolism includes living and deceased veterans. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom adopted the custom soon after it began, and it remains popular there to this day. As a symbol of Remembrance Day (November 11), the poppy is worn in many countries.
To those who have fallen, thank you
The staff at cooloutdoortrends.com would like to express their gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Our nation’s heroes will always be remembered for their sacrifices. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
It is also important to remember the fallen’s loved ones — spouses, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, and friends. Even though there are no appropriate words to express our gratitude, we do live each day with gratitude for their precious gift.