First known as “Decoration Day,” it began three years after the end of the Civil War, when a former Union general called for a way to remember fallen service members. For decades, Americans marked the holiday on May 30. In 1971, the federal government officially designated the last Monday in May as Memorial Day.
Here are ways you can honor those who have given their lives for this country.
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Take action:
According to the Memorial Day Foundation, there are specific customs for paying respect to fallen service members on Memorial Day:
- Flying the US flag at half-staff until noon
- Observing a moment of silence at 3 p.m. local time
- Placing flags or flowers on veterans’ graves
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