Memorial Day facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Memorial Day
Arlington National Cemetery graves decorated with flags during Memorial Day weekend
Observed by	United States
Type	Federal
Significance	Honors U.S. military personnel who died in service
Observances	Decoration of military graves with American flags
Date	Last Monday in May
2025 date	May 26
2026 date	May 25
2027 date	May 31  (2027-05-31)
2028 date	May 29  (2028-05-29)
Frequency	Annual
First time	May 30, 1868

Memorial Day is a special holiday in the United States. It is a day to remember and honor the brave men and women of the U.S. military who died while serving our country. We observe Memorial Day on the last Monday of May each year. Many people also see it as the unofficial start of summer!

On Memorial Day, people often visit cemeteries and memorials. They go to honor military personnel who died protecting our nation. Volunteers often place American flags on the graves of these heroes in national cemeteries.

The idea for Memorial Day began after the American Civil War. It was first known as Decoration Day. The first national observance was on May 30, 1868. Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic asked people to honor Union soldiers who had died. Over time, this day grew to honor all U.S. military members who died in service. In 1971, it officially became "Memorial Day" and was set to be observed on the last Monday in May.

The Start of Memorial Day

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

Many towns and people say they were the first to celebrate Memorial Day. Some of these claims are about events that happened before or after the Civil War. Others come from old traditions of putting flowers on soldiers' graves. People decorated soldiers' graves in the U.S. even before and during the American Civil War.

Early Southern Traditions

In 1867, people decorated graves in Richmond, Virginia's Hollywood Cemetery.

Many communities in the Southern United States started their own ways to honor fallen soldiers.

Warrenton, Virginia

On June 3, 1861, in Warrenton, Virginia, a soldier's grave was decorated. This was for John Quincy Marr, the first soldier killed in the Civil War. He died on June 1, 1861.

Jackson, Mississippi

On April 26, 1865, Sue Landon Vaughan said she decorated graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers in Jackson, Mississippi. However, records of this event appeared much later.

Charleston, South Carolina

On May 1, 1865, in Charleston, South Carolina, recently freed Black people held a large parade. About 10,000 people honored 257 Union soldiers who had died in a prison camp. These soldiers were reburied with flowers. Some historians believe this was the first Memorial Day.

Columbus, Georgia

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs credits women from Columbus, Georgia, with starting a Memorial Day practice in the South. Mary Ann Williams wrote a letter on March 11, 1866. She asked for help to create an annual holiday to decorate soldiers' graves. April 26 was chosen as the date. This date marked the end of the war with a surrender agreement in 1865.

Columbus, Mississippi

On April 25, 1866, four women in Columbus, Mississippi, decorated graves at Friendship Cemetery. They honored both Confederate and Union soldiers. This act of kindness and peace is seen by some as an inspiration for Memorial Day.

Early Northern Traditions

General John A. Logan, who called for a national "Decoration Day" in 1868.

Northern states also had early ways of remembering fallen soldiers.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

In 1863, a ceremony was held at the cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This event honored dead soldiers. Some people believe President Abraham Lincoln helped start the idea of Memorial Day here.

Boalsburg, Pennsylvania

Local historians in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, say that ladies decorated soldiers' graves on July 4, 1864. Boalsburg calls itself the birthplace of Memorial Day. However, written proof of this event appeared much later.

National Decoration Day

On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan asked for "Decoration Day" to be celebrated every year across the nation. He was the leader of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). This group was for Union Civil War veterans. Logan chose May 30 because it was a good time for flowers to be blooming in the North.

State Holiday Recognition

The 1870 Decoration Day parade in St. Paul, Minnesota.

In 1873, New York made Decoration Day an official state holiday. By 1890, all northern states had done the same. Women's groups, like the Women's Relief Corps, often organized the ceremonies. By 1870, nearly 300,000 Union soldiers were reburied in national cemeteries. These included Gettysburg National Cemetery and Arlington National Cemetery.

Waterloo, New York

On May 26, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson named Waterloo, New York, as the "official" birthplace of the holiday. This was based on a resolution from Congress. However, some historians question this claim.

How Memorial Day Grew

After Lincoln's assassination in April 1865, many events honored the fallen. Over 600,000 soldiers died in the Civil War. This made remembering the dead very important. Women played a big role in organizing grave decorating. In 1865, the government also started creating national cemeteries for Union soldiers.

Orphans placing flags at their fathers' graves in Glenwood Cemetery in Philadelphia on Decoration Day.

Decoration Day, Jefferson Barracks, MO., around 1914–1918.

By the 1880s, ceremonies became more similar across the country. The GAR provided guides for local groups. These guides included procedures, poems, and Bible verses. On Decoration Day, groups would march to cemeteries. They would decorate graves, say prayers, give patriotic speeches, and play music. Sometimes, a rifle salute was also part of the ceremony.

Confederate Memorial Day

In some Southern states, a separate day was observed to honor Confederate soldiers. This was called Confederate Memorial Day. It was often celebrated on different dates, like June 3, the birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Women's groups were very important in organizing these events.

Renaming and Modern Observance

The March of Time, by Henry Sandham showing Civil War veterans parading during Decoration Day, 1896.

By the 20th century, different traditions merged. Memorial Day began to honor all Americans who died serving in the U.S. military. The name "Memorial Day" became more common after World War II. It was officially declared the federal name in 1967.

In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This law moved Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May. This created a three-day weekend. The law took effect in 1971.

Some people worried that the holiday's true meaning was being forgotten. They felt it was becoming more about fun and less about remembrance. For example, the Indianapolis 500 car race was sometimes held on Memorial Day. This caused debates about the holiday's purpose.

"On Decoration Day" political cartoon from around 1900 by John T. McCutcheon.

How We Observe Memorial Day Today

The United States Marine Band on Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is still an important holiday. Many businesses close, and it marks the unofficial start of summer. Groups like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) have suggested returning to the original May 30 date. They believe changing the date has made people less focused on the holiday's meaning.

In 2000, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act. This asks everyone to pause at 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day to remember. On this day, the flag of the United States is raised to the top of the pole. Then it is slowly lowered to half-staff until noon. After noon, it is raised back to the top. The bugle call Taps is often played. A special National Memorial Day Concert is held on the lawn of the United States Capitol.

Parades

Many towns and cities hold Memorial Day parades. Brooklyn, New York, claims to have the nation's oldest parade, starting in 1867. Grafton, West Virginia, and Ironton, Ohio, have also had parades since 1868.

The Meaning of Poppies

After a big battle in 1915, a doctor named John McCrae wrote a poem called "In Flanders Fields". The poem talks about the red poppies that grew where soldiers were buried. Inspired by this poem, a woman named Moina Michael started wearing a silk poppy. She also gave them to others. In 1920, the American Legion made the poppy its official symbol of remembrance.

Important Dates for Memorial Day

More Ways to Remember

• Armed Forces Day, a day in May to honor those currently serving in the U.S. military.
• Veterans Day, on November 11, honors all American military veterans, both living and deceased.
• ANZAC Day, April 25, a similar day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand.
• Remembrance Day, November 11, a similar observance in Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries.

See also

In Spanish: Día de los Caídos (Estados Unidos) para niños