Memorial Day: A Day of Remembrance

Throughout the short history of the United States, over one million Americans have lost their lives in civil service. The last Monday of May is dedicated to honoring the great sacrifices that these people made for their country. This American holiday, known as Memorial Day, will take place on 28th of May this year.

Although Waterloo, New York is officially claimed to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, the holiday had many separate beginnings, in which different American cities and towns each had their own way of honoring their dead. Because of the growing universal importance of remembering those who died in service, Memorial Day was proclaimed a holiday on May 5th, 1868, by General John Logan.

It wasn’t until after World War II, in 1971, that the US Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday. When Memorial Day was first observed in the United States, the southern states refused to acknowledge the holiday. Instead, these states had their own holidays in which they honored the Confederate soldiers who died defending the South in the American Civil war. Even today, nine states, including Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, observe Confederate Memorial Days, many of which are held on different dates.

Several time-honored traditions date back to early observances of this holiday, such as wearing red poppies and decorating the graves of military servants with American flags. In fact, Memorial Day was originally named Decoration Day, because of the beautiful decorations people would place at the graves of those who died serving their country.

Today, Memorial Day is quite different than what it used to be. Originally a very sacred and solemn day, it is now more of a festive celebration, in which people enjoy their time away from work and school. Because the holiday is always on a Monday, adults and children receive a three-day weekend every Memorial Day. Several cities and towns host parades for the entire community to attend. In addition, families and friends will get together for barbeques and other social gatherings.

Amidst all of the celebration and merriment, the true meaning of Memorial Day has not been forgotten. Memorial Day parades often conclude in a cemetery, where people are kindly asked to remember the sacrifices of their civil servants. Usually, a trumpet accompanies this somber moment with the song Taps, a musical piece typically played at military funerals. This reminds us once again of the importance of the selfless risks taken by members of the military.