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Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a nationally recognized holiday that commemorates the brave men and women who've lost their lives fighting for our freedom during war or other hard times in America. Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May. Memorial Day was instituted as a national holiday by Congress in 1968. In 2011, Memorial Day will be observed on May 30.

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About Memorial Day

Memorial Day is when the U.S. recognizes those who died while serving in the armed forces. It was originally established to honor soldiers who had died in the Civil War, which totaled over 620,000 soldiers. Memorial day is always the last Monday in May. It is normally a paid holiday and is also the official start of summer. Public pools and other seasonal activities traditionally have their season opening on Memorial Day.

Prior to standardization by Congress, Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day, and was unofficially observed in May of each year. Michigan was the first state to formally recognize the holiday in 1871. After World Wars II, the name ''Memorial Day'' began to replace ''Decoration Day'' in the zeitgeist, and was formally changed in 1967 by Congress. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which standardized the dates for Memorial Day, Washington's Birthday, and Veteran's Day to allow for three-day weekends.

Other people observe the holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials or placing flowers on the graves of loved ones who died in battle or who served as soldiers. Some fly the U.S. flag at half-staff from sunrise to noon. Many place poppies in their lapels, a tradition that arose from the John McCrae poem In Flanders Field. Other popular events on Memorial Day (or Memorial Day weekend) include the Indy 500 race, the Coca-Cola 600 stock car race, the Memorial Tournament golf event, and The National Memorial Day Concert.

In Flanders Field

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

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Memorial Day