Embassy of the United States of America U.S. HOLIDAYS

Memorial Day: Reflection and Celebration

The World War II Memorial in Washington honors the 16 million who served and more than 400,000 who died. Library of Congress

f the two official United On that three-day weekend, many Even as Americans enjoy the com- States holidays recogniz- people travel to visit friends and ing of summer, they also can be Oing the commitment of family. They attend events rang- found in somber moods. Veterans members of America’s military ing from community gatherings Day, in contrast, honors every- services, Memorial Day honors to large sports competitions. The one who serves or has served those who lost their lives while Indianapolis (“Indy”) 500 motor in defense of the country and is defending their country. race, for instance, attracts an observed with celebrations on the estimated 300,000 people on the same date each year, November 11. The holiday is observed on the last Saturday before Memorial Day. Monday of May, as weather is turn- History of Memorial Day ing warm and most schools and But many Americans also visit universities are adjourning for the cemeteries, where volunteers often The American Civil War of 1861 summer, establishing Memorial place American flags on graves. to 1865 claimed the lives of more Day weekend as the unofficial On Memorial Day itself, a national than 550,000 people. During those beginning of summer. moment of silence takes place at 3 years, many citizens began to p.m. local time to remember the place flowers on the graves of the war dead. war dead. Memorial Day: Reflection and Celebration

Several Northern and Southern “Decoration Day,” it is believed cities claim to be the originators the date was chosen because flow- of Memorial Day, but in 1966, ers would be in bloom all over the President Lyndon B. Johnson pro- country. claimed Waterloo, New York, as its By the turn of the century, official birthplace. nearly every state had declared In 1865, Henry Welles, a Waterloo “Decoration Day” an official holi- pharmacist, suggested that the day. After World War I, Decoration town formally set aside a day to Day was expanded to honor those honor those killed in the war. The killed in all of the nation’s wars, following year, Waterloo held the and after World War II, it became first formal observance of a day known as Memorial Day. dedicated to honoring the war Among the ceremonies held on dead. the first Decoration Day was one In 1868, John A. Logan, a former at Arlington National Cemetery Civil War general and founder of in Virginia, across the Potomac an organization of war veterans, River from Washington. President extended the idea by suggest- Ulysses S. Grant presided. After ing May 30 as an annual date to the speeches and tributes, thou- remember the massive numbers sands of war orphans, veterans who died during the turmoil and others decorated the graves of the divided nation. Called of the Civil War dead. There were more than 20,000 such graves at Arlington Cemetery alone. The inscription, “For Those Who Answered the Long Roll,” on the Veterans Memorial in Daphne, Alabama, honors all This tradition continues. The U.S. who died in service to the country. Library of Congress president or vice president typi- This Civil War soldier in Moodus, Connecticut, honors cally presides at a Memorial Day troops who died in Sharpsburg (Antietam), Maryland; ceremony at Arlington National Appomattox, Virginia; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; and Cemetery outside of Washington Petersburg, Virginia. Library of Congress and places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, also known as Day Museum and an antique car Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. show. Civil War buffs in period In the evening, the National uniforms and dresses hold a two- Symphony Orchestra performs a night encampment in a city park free patriotic concert on the front and present a live cannon-fire lawn of Congress. Solemn obser- demonstration. Many Southern vances also are held at Civil War states also have their own days for battle sites, including Gettysburg, honoring the Confederate dead. Pennsylvania, and Sharpsburg In 1971, Congress established (Antietam), Maryland. Memorial Day as a federal holiday Meanwhile in Waterloo, the fes- and fixed its observance on the tivities include a parade, a crafts last Monday in May. show, a strawberry festival, music, tours of the town’s Memorial

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE May 2013 BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION PROGRAMS