Memorial Day is observed in the United States annually on the last Monday of May, which this year falls on Monday, May 26, and recognizes and honors the members of the American armed forces who have died. Read our previous articles on Memorial Day for more information about the holiday’s history.
Armed Forces Day (third Saturday in May, this year May 17) honors those currently serving, while Veterans Day (November 11, annually) honors those still alive who have served in the armed forces. Of these three holidays honoring military service, Memorial Day is the best known and was the first to be established. While there is some debate over its exact origin, due to the many local and state observances that had taken place earlier, the first official observance of a national Memorial Day took place on May 30, 1868, under the name of Decoration Day, honoring the soldiers who died in the American Civil War. This original date of May 30 was intentionally chosen to not fall on the anniversary of any particular battle of the Civil War, so it could properly honor all of the war dead.
Because of the holiday’s inclusion under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which changed its date, and its position at the end of May, Memorial Day is also often considered a celebratory occasion and the unofficial beginning of summer, with many people holding parties and barbecues. You may already be seeing red, white, and blue decorations and sales on cooking equipment in stores!
However, many other observers have long taken offense at Memorial Day celebrations, believing that it is disrespectful to the dead that the day is meant to honor. As far back as 1913, veterans were heard to complain that younger Americans tended “to forget the purpose of Memorial Day and make it a day for games, races, and revelry, instead of a day of memory and tears.” Some veterans groups have even lobbied for a return to the original date, finding it insulting that the holiday was moved simply to create a three-day weekend. It may be considered rude, especially to Americans who have lost loved ones in military service, to wish people a “Happy Memorial Day.”
Memorial Day is a federal holiday, so expect schools, banks, and government buildings to be closed. Businesses and restaurants will often hold Memorial Day sales if they aren’t closed or operating on limited hours for the holiday. Expect traffic and crowds around popular sites such as parks, public pools, and beaches.
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