With the final Monday in May drawing near each year comes a welcome break from work and a chance to begin the summer season with the warmth and sunshine Americans love. But amidst the leisure and festivities, it is important to take a moment and remember the real reason behind Memorial Day: a somber day to honor the men and women who lost their lives serving the United States in the military.
The Origins of Memorial Day
Memorial Day emerged in the wake of the American Civil War, a war that took more lives than any other war in American history and required the establishment of the nation’s first national cemeteries. Initially referred to as Decoration Day, it was a period when people and their families and communities would get together and decorate the graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags.
The first large Decoration Day occurred on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery, where General James A. Garfield gave a speech before 5,000 attendees assisted in decorating the graves of over 20,000 Civil War Union and Confederate soldiers. The date was specifically picked since it fell neither on the anniversary of any particular battle and thus served as a common day to mourn the losses.
Through the years, the holiday spread beyond Civil War casualties to include all Americans who lost their lives in military service. In 1971, Congress made Memorial Day a national holiday through legislation and fixed the holiday on the last Monday in May.
Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day: An Important Difference
Though both Memorial Day and Veterans Day honor the military community, they serve distinct purposes—and it is essential not to confuse the two.
- Memorial Day is commemorated as a day of remembering and mourning the lives lost while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
- Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 and commemorates all those who served in the military, both alive and deceased, in times both war and peace.
Veterans Day honors service; Memorial Day is a national moment of reflection and sadness. The flag is displayed at half-staff until noon and then hoisted to its full staff position on Memorial Day to reflect the shift from sorrow to the resumption of duty.
Why Memorial Day Matters
In a world more and more removed from the harsh realities of military life, Memorial Day acts as a strong reminder of the price of freedom and the ultimate selflessness borne by so many. It is more than a holiday–it’s a day of respect.
The men and women we remember through Memorial Day did not come back home to their families. They didn’t live to witness the products of the peace they secured. Their sacrifice provided the freedoms we take for granted today, and acknowledgment of the cost—particularly as a nation—is both a moral responsibility and an act worthy of deep appreciation.
Honoring the Fallen
Some significant ways to celebrate Memorial Day in its proper spirit are listed below:
- Go to a community cemetery or memorial and lay flowers or flags on the graves of deceased soldiers.
- Observe a moment of silence at 3:00 local time, the National Moment of Remembrance.
- Go to a Memorial Day ceremony or parade in your community.
- Learn the histories of the people who served and lost their lives—numerous organizations and websites publish the personal histories of deceased soldiers.
- Educate younger people in particular about the actual significance of the day.
Memorial Day is not the beginning of summer or the season of sales. It is a day to remember the benefits we possess—freedom of expression, the right to vote, the right to live in peace—were purchased at great cost. Let the fallen heroes be honored and commemorated not merely in ceremony, but in the way we live our lives: with intent, with appreciation, and devotion to the ideals they gave their lives for. Take the time this Memorial Day to remember and remember deeply. Because freedom doesn’t come cheap—and the ones who paid the ultimate price are worth more than a passing nod.
