Memorial Day 2023: Memorial Day, commonly known as Decoration Day, is a federal holiday celebrated every year in the US. The day recognizes and mourns the sacrifices of fallen American military personnel. It is usually observed on the last Monday in May, which this year falls on May 29.
Memorial Day 2023: History
During the war, women took the lead in developing the increasingly formal tradition of grave decoration. On May 5, 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War, the leader of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a group of Union veterans, founded Decoration Day as a day for the country decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. Major General John A. Logan chose the day of May 30.
According to the History Channel report, “May 30, 1868, is designated for the purpose of scattering flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in soil. almost every city, town and village graveyard in the country.”
States began formally recognizing the day as a holiday in 1873, beginning with New York. All states in the Union had later adopted it in 1890. However, Congress changed the holiday’s observance date to the last Monday in May 1971, standardizing it as “Memorial Day.”
Memorial Day 2023: importance
On Memorial Day, many people visit graves and memorials to remember and pay tribute to those who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military. At national cemeteries, many volunteers place American flags on the graves of service members. Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial start of summer.
Memorial Day Traditions
Memorial Day parades are held in towns and cities across the country, featuring members of the armed forces and veterans groups. Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC host some of the biggest parades.
Some general customs, as opposed to the specific events that led to the national declaration, include placing flowers on the graves of fallen troops. In the United States, both before and during the American Civil War, soldiers’ graves were decorated. At national cemeteries, many volunteers place American flags on the graves of service members.
Visits to cemeteries and memorials are another way for Americans to observe Memorial Day. A tradition that began with a World War I poem is the wearing of a crimson poppy in honor of those who have died in battle.
Interesting facts about Memorial Day 2023
- General John A. Logan decided to hold the celebration in May because it is a flowering season.
- Arlington Cemetery, a military cemetery, is about 472 football fields or 624 acres and has nearly 400,000 burials.
- Arlington National Cemetery held its inaugural Memorial Day service there in 1868. President James A. Garfield gave a two-hour address on the importance of Memorial Day in front of more than 5,000 attendees.
- The custom of wearing silk poppies in honor of dead soldiers was inspired by the World War I poem “On the Field of Flanders.”
- The national flag flies at half-staff from dawn to noon on Memorial Day to honor fallen soldiers. At dusk, it is raised to its full height to represent the hope that survives death.
- As many as 38 million people reportedly cross borders to pay tribute to fallen soldiers.
Memorial Day is considered one of the civic activities that involve the community. Displaying flags on soldiers’ graves means a lot to members of our community who have military families. The day values emotions and zeal for sacrificing lives for the country.
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Source: ptivs2.edu.vn