Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that takes place on the last Monday of May. It was formerly known as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who died in military service for their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it expanded to include those who died in any war or military action. Today, many Americans use Memorial Day weekend to also honor family members who have passed away. Church services on the Sunday prior to Memorial Day may include a reading of the names of members who have died during the previous 12 months.

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Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A National Moment of Remembrance takes place at 3 PM. Another tradition is to fly the U.S. Flag at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. In addition to remembrance, Memorial Day is also a time for picnics, family gatherings, and sporting events. One of the longest standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, which has been held in conjuction with Memorial Day since 1911.

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Memorial Day was originally observed on May 30, and some advocate returning to this fixed date. However, many other Americans enjoy the guaranteed three-day weekend that comes with observing the holiday on a Monday. Memorial Day is popularly viewed as the unofficial beginning of summer in the United States, while Labor Day is considered the unofficial end of the season.

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United States: :For other uses, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation)....

Federal holiday: In the United States, a Federal holiday is a holiday for which federal workers are excused from work....

Monday: Monday is considered either the first or the second day of the week, between Sunday and Tuesday. It gets its name from Mani (Old English Mona), the Germanic Moon god....

Memorial Day related Images and Photos (experimental)

Memorial Day Greetings Eagle with Banner	Memorial Day Greetings Columbia and Flag	Memorial Stadium	Day Surf
Day Lily	Day Watch	Day Dream	Day Blossoms
Third Day, The (DVD)	Sun Day	One Day	Day's End