EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Memorial Day, celebrated this year on Monday, May 26, is a somber day to honor and reflect on servicemembers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for this country.
Here are some facts about the holiday, according to We Are Teachers.
The first Memorial Day was held in 1868, just three years after the end of the Civil War, which took the lives of 620,000 Americans or 2 percent of the population at the time.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. Communities across the country would gather in the spring to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers.
According to some historical accounts, one of the first commemorations took place in Charleston, South Carolina and was organized and attended by formerly enslaved people. This event took place just a few weeks after the Confederate surrender in 1865.
The day became known as Memorial Day after World War II. It became an officially recognized federal holiday in 1971.
For many, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. But it is so much more than that.
It is also a day of remembrance, reflection and quiet gratitude for those who have served our country.
In 2000, Congress passed what is known as the National Moment of Remembrance Act. It encourages all Americans to pause for one minute at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day to remember and honor the sacrifices of those who have died in service to the United States.
The flag is flown at half-staff from sunrise to noon on Memorial Day.
Memorial Day and Veterans Day are not the same. Memorial Day honors those who died while serving the nation. Veterans Day celebrates all who served. Additionally, a third holiday, Armed Forces Day, celebrates those who are currently serving.
Some people wear poppies on Memorial Day. This tradition was inspired by the World War I poem “In Flanders Fields,” written in 1915 by John McCrae.
More than 1.3 million American servicemembers have died in wars since the country’s founding.
Yes, it is a holiday so it is tempting to say, “Happy Memorial Day,” but keep in mind it is a day to honor and remember, not just a day off from work.
It may be more appropriate to wish people a “meaningful” Memorial Day.
Editor’s note: Information was provided by We Are Teachers, a community of educators who share ideas, resources and stories.
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