What's the history behind Memorial Day? Why Americans observe the federal holiday
While you're enjoying the day off, take some time to understand why today is a holiday.
Memorial Day is observed annually on the last Monday of May. This year, it falls on May 26.
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, began after the American Civil War as a way to honor fallen soldiers.
According to the National Cemetery Administration, the first national observance took place on May 30, 1868, when Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic called for a day to decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers with flowers.
Over time, the holiday expanded to commemorate all American military personnel who died in service.
In 1971, Congress officially established Memorial Day as a federal holiday, moving its observance to the last Monday in May to create a three-day weekend. Today, Americans honor the day with parades, ceremonies, and moments of remembrance.
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the U.S. It was officially recognized by Congress in 1971 and is observed on the last Monday in May each year. As a federal holiday, government offices, banks, and many businesses close in observance. Americans can use this time to honor military personnel who died in service.
According to AAA, 3.7 million Texans will travel over the Memorial Day holiday period between Thursday, May 22 and Monday, May 26, a 3% increase from 2024. This is the third straight year of record-breaking travel for this holiday statewide.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: What is the origin of Memorial Day? See why the holiday is observed
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