“Memorial Day”
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for
remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces.
The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, was
formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to
commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the war. By the 20th
century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who died while
in the military service. It typically marks the start of the summer vacation
season, while Labor Day marks its end. Many people visit cemeteries and
memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many
volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries. Annual
Decoration Days for particular cemeteries are held on a Sunday in late spring
or early summer in some rural areas of the American South, notably in the
mountain areas. In cases involving a family graveyard where remote ancestors as
well as those who were deceased more recently are buried, this may take on the
character of an extended family reunion to which some people travel hundreds of
miles. People gather on the designated day and put flowers on graves and renew
contacts with relatives and others. There often is a religious service and a
picnic-like "dinner on the ground," the traditional term for a
potluck meal in which people used to spread the dishes out on sheets or
tablecloths on the grass. It is believed that this practice began before the American
Civil War and thus may reflect the real origin of the "memorial day"
idea.
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