VFW Post 7824 · Vancouver, Washington A day to remember the men and women who gave their lives while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The meaning of the day Memorial Day is not simply the unofficial beginning of summer. It is a national day of remembrance for U.S. military personnel who died while serving our country. Its traditions grew from the grief left by the Civil War and the simple act of decorating graves with flowers. Over time, the observance expanded to honor those lost in every American war and conflict. From Decoration Day to Memorial Day Memorial Day did not begin in only one place or in one moment. It developed through local acts of mourning, a national call to remembrance, and more than a century of shared observance. During the closing months of the Civil War and immediately afterward, Black and White communities in both the North and the South decorated soldiers’ graves with flowers. Many places helped shape the tradition and preserve their own early observances. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued General Orders No. 11. It called for May 30 to be set aside for decorating the graves of those who died in defense of the country. More than 5,000 people gathered at Arlington National Cemetery. Congressman and former Union Maj. Gen. James A. Garfield spoke before participants placed flowers on the graves of Civil War dead. The observance grew beyond its Civil War origins to honor Americans who died in all of the nation’s wars. The name Memorial Day gradually became more common than Decoration Day. The federal government recognized Waterloo, New York, as the official birthplace of Memorial Day, while acknowledging a broader history of remembrance traditions across the country. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect, establishing Memorial Day as a federal holiday observed on the last Monday in May. Public Law 106-579 designated the minute beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day as the National Moment of Remembrance. Honor through action Remembrance can be public or personal. These traditions help keep the meaning of the day at the center of our observance. Until noon The U.S. flag is raised briskly to the peak, lowered to half-staff until noon, and then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. 3:00 p.m. Wherever you are, stop for the National Moment of Remembrance and reflect on those who died in service to the nation. Throughout the day Visit a cemetery or memorial, place flowers or flags, attend a ceremony, and share the story of a fallen service member with another generation. A helpful distinction Last Monday in May Honors military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. November 11 Honors all who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces, with particular emphasis on thanking living veterans. Learn more
Memorial Day
Remember the fallen
A tradition shaped over generations
1865–1866
Communities begin local observances
May 5, 1868
Decoration Day is established
May 30, 1868
The first national observance
After World War I
Remembrance expands
1966
Waterloo receives federal recognition
1971
A federal holiday on the last Monday in May
2000
A national moment to pause
How America observes Memorial Day
Fly the flag at half-staff
Pause for one minute
Make remembrance personal
Memorial Day and Veterans Day
Memorial Day
Veterans Day
Sources and further reading
