Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed annually on the last
Monday of May (May 28 in 2012).
Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated
after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil
War.
(Southern...
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Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed annually on the last
Monday of May (May 28 in 2012).
Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated
after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil
War.
(Southern ladies organizations and southern schoolchildren had decorated
Confederate graves in Richmond and other cities during the Civil War, but each
region had its own date.
Most dates were in May.
) By the 20th century Memorial
Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died in all wars.
Memorial
Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the
United States Armed Forces.
As a marker it typically marks the start of the
summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.
The preferred name for the holiday gradually changed from "Decoration Day" to
"Memorial Day", which was first used in 1882.
It did not become more common until
after World War II, and was not declared the official name by Feder
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