Memorial Day
Last Monday in May
America has always honored the soldiers that sacrificed their lives for
their country. In 1868, General James Garfield made a speech marking a
proclamation by an organization of former sailors and soldiers, the
Grand Army of the Republic. In this proclamation they designated May
30th as a day to decorate the graves of the fallen. Following the civil
war, "Decorating Day" was commemorated by several Union cities after the
civil war as a day to remember the dead. Waterloo, New York, had been
celebrating "Memorial Day" as early as 1866, and President Johnson
declared Waterloo to be the birthplace of Memorial Day.
Today many people celebrate Memorial Days with family outings and
picnics. Military graves are often decorated with a small American flag.
The Indianapolis 500 automobile race has been held on the Memorial Day
weekend since 1911.
Memorial Day is a Federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday in
May. It is a uniquely American holiday.
