Memorial Day in the United States is a special national holiday celebrated on the last Monday in May every year.

This day is dedicated to those US servicemen who died defending the interests of the country in all wars and military conflicts in which the US has ever participated. But not everyone knows the history of this holiday.

History Memorial Day began after the American Civil War and was originally dedicated only to Confederate state soldiers who died during the war. Then the holiday had a different name - Decoration Day, because on this day it was customary to decorate the graves of dead soldiers with flowers and flags.

Bemorepanda collected some interesting facts so you can discover more about the history and meaning of this holiday.

1. The holiday was named the Day of Remembrance in 1866. For the first time, Memorial Day was officially celebrated in the small town of Waterloo, New York, on May 5, 1866.

2. The location was not chosen by chance. Here, a citywide campaign was held annually to clean the graves of the dead soldiers. This day was an official non-working day, so the introduction of the holiday did not affect the usual life in any way.

3. However, over time, the holiday has become very popular and even family. On May 5, 1868, the holiday was officially proclaimed by General John Logan, commander of the Old Republic Army.

4. He was commemorated on May 30, 1868 by the laying of flowers at the grave of Allied and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

5. In 1873, the holiday was officially recognized by the state of New York - the first state to celebrate it.

6. Since 1890, the holiday has been recognized by all Northern states of the United States.

7. The southern states refused to celebrate, remembering their loved ones who died in the war on other days.

8. After the First World War, on the Day of Remembrance began to commemorate the soldiers who died in battles in this war. But the holiday was still unofficial in much of the United States.

9. Memorial Day was recognized as a federal holiday only in 1971 with the adoption of the corresponding law - the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

10. Today, Americans associate Memorial Day with the actual onset of summer.

11. On the weekend before Memorial Day (and along with the holiday itself there are as many as 3 days), it is customary to go with your family for a picnic, on a trip, participate in sports competitions, and organize charity events.

12. But the Americans do not forget the origins of the holiday - on this day they still decorate the graves and plant flags on them, remembering the exploits of American soldiers.

13. Nonetheless, various political groups have repeatedly submitted bills to Congress to fix an official (non-floating) date for Memorial Day.

14. With the passage of time and the distance of events that caused the creation of the holiday, it is increasingly perceived by the new generation as just part of a three-day weekend.

15. Some states have additional commemoration days. For example, in Texas it is January 19, in Florida and Alabama - April 26, in South Carolina - May 10, in Louisiana - June 3.

16. The holiday is celebrated on the last Monday in May when it gets warmer and schools and universities close for summer holidays. For Americans, Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. Many take part in parades, go to the beach, or have picnics with family and friends.

17 Participants in the parade in the form of soldiers from the American Revolutionary War perform in the parade.

18. Soldier's boots at the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, on the black granite walls of which are carved the names of more than 58 thousand Americans who died during the Vietnam War.

19. US Marines in front of the illuminated American flag in Times Square in New York during the celebration of Fleet Week. Fleet Week has been held in New York City since 1984 to honor the United States Navy and the Marine Corps. In normal years, Fleet Week ends on Memorial Day with an air parade honoring US military personnel who have been killed.

20. A family at a Memorial Day picnic outside Vicksburg National Cemetery in Vicksburg, Mississippi, which houses the largest number of graves of participants in the US Civil War in any national cemetery.

21. A soldier of the 3rd US Army Infantry Regiment, often referred to as the "Old Guard", puts a flag on the tombstone of the deceased soldier. The annual flag-planting ceremony takes place at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

22. During the American Civil War, women in the southern states began to gather without any official reason to decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers. In April 1886, the women's associations of Columbia and Georgia decided to commemorate the victims once a year. However, there was no single day - the feasts of remembrance in the southern states were held on different days throughout the spring and early summer. This tradition has been partially preserved today. Nine southern states officially recognize Confederate Memorial Day, and also celebrate the birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and the death of General Thomas "Stonewell" Jackson.

23. After the end of the Civil War, the northerners decided to adopt from the southerners the tradition of commemorating the dead on a certain day. In 1868, General John A. Logan, in his order, declared May 30 to be a memorial day for the more than 620,000 soldiers killed in the Civil War. He called the holiday Decoration Day, because on this day the Americans had to decorate with flowers the graves of those killed in the war, "whose bodies now lie in almost every city and village cemetery." According to legend, Logan chose May 30 because it was a rare day that did not fall on the anniversary of any Civil War battle, although some historians believe this date was chosen because flowers are in full bloom across the country these days.

24. Following the edict of John A. Logan, the graves at Arlington Cemetery were decorated for the first time on May 30, with more than five thousand people attending the ceremony. In 1873, New York became the first state in America to officially recognize this holiday. In 1890 it was recognized by all northern states, but the southern states still tried to show their hostility, and commemorated their dead on other dates. This misunderstanding lasted about 50 years until the start of the First World War, then this day was proclaimed the day of honoring those killed in all wars.

25.Since 1971, when America was deeply involved in the Vietnam War, Memorial Day has officially become a national US holiday. Only then did the holiday get its current name and from Decoration Day became Memorial Day. Then the holiday was made "floating" - it began to be celebrated on the last Monday of May. This decision was not without controversy - groups of veterans were worried that the long weekend would distort the essence of the holiday and turn it into just a day of relaxation. Many organizations are still lobbying for a return to the May 30 celebration.

26. The holiday has its own traditions and rituals. On this day, American flags are lowered until noon, and after that they are raised up the flagpoles. In 2000, the US Congress passed a law requiring the entire country to honor the dead with a minute of silence at 3 pm.

22. During the American Civil War, women in the southern states began to gather without any official reason to decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers. In April 1886, the women's associations of Columbia and Georgia decided to commemorate the victims once a year. However, there was no single day - the feasts of remembrance in the southern states were held on different days throughout the spring and early summer. This tradition has been partially preserved today. Nine southern states officially recognize Confederate Memorial Day, and also celebrate the birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and the death of General Thomas "Stonewell" Jackson.

23. After the end of the Civil War, the northerners decided to adopt from the southerners the tradition of commemorating the dead on a certain day. In 1868, General John A. Logan, in his order, declared May 30 to be a memorial day for the more than 620,000 soldiers killed in the Civil War. He called the holiday Decoration Day, because on this day the Americans had to decorate with flowers the graves of those killed in the war, "whose bodies now lie in almost every city and village cemetery." According to legend, Logan chose May 30 because it was a rare day that did not fall on the anniversary of any Civil War battle, although some historians believe this date was chosen because flowers are in full bloom across the country these days.

24. Following the edict of John A. Logan, the graves at Arlington Cemetery were decorated for the first time on May 30, with more than five thousand people attending the ceremony. In 1873, New York became the first state in America to officially recognize this holiday. In 1890, it was recognized by all northern states, but southern states still tried to show their hostility, and commemorated their dead on other dates. This misunderstanding lasted about 50 years before the start of the First World War, then this day was proclaimed the day of honoring those killed in all wars.

25.Since 1971, when America was deeply involved in the Vietnam War, Memorial Day has officially become a national US holiday. Only then did the holiday get its current name and from Decoration Day became Memorial Day. Then the holiday was made "floating" - it began to be celebrated on the last Monday of May. This decision was not without controversy - groups of veterans were worried that the long weekend would distort the essence of the holiday and turn it into just a day of relaxation. Many organizations are still lobbying for a return to the May 30 celebration.

26. The holiday has its own traditions and rituals. On this day, American flags are lowered until noon, and after that they are raised up the flagpoles. In 2000, the US Congress passed a law requiring the entire country to honor the dead with a minute of silence at 3 pm.

27. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday.

28. Including 529.5 thousand during the Civil War, 405.4 thousand - World War II, 116.5 thousand - World War I, 58.2 thousand - Vietnam (1964-1973) and 36.6 thousand - Korean War (1950-1953).

29. Every day in the United States die about 1.8 thousand. War veterans, who are buried in 151 national cemeteries.

30. By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day was celebrated almost throughout the country, and after the First World War, on the last Monday in May, they began to commemorate those who died in all armed conflicts with the participation of the United States.