Memorial Day
Memorial Day or Decoration Day as it was formerly known, is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May month every year. The day memorializes American men and women who met their fate on duty while serving for their country. It began with honoring the Union soldiers who went on to meet their maker during the American Civil War, but after World War I, it expanded to include all who passed away in any war or military action.
History
As per historical evidences, following the end of the Civil War, many communities reserved a day to mark the end of the war and mark respect to all those who had died. Some of the early cities creating a memorial day include Boalsburg , Pennsylvania ; Carbondale , Illinois ; Charleston , South Carolina ; Columbus , Mississippi ; Richmond , Virginia and some two dozen other cities and towns. These observances eventually banded together around Decoration Day honoring the Union dead and the several Confederate Memorial Days.
In 1865, following the suggestion of Professor David Blight of the Yale University History Department, the first memorial day was observed by liberated slaves at the historic race track in Charleston. The site was a former Confederate prison camp as well as a mass grave for Union soldiers who had died while captive. A parade with thousands of freed blacks and Union soldiers was followed by patriotic singing and an excursion.
Tradition
Many people pay their homage to the martyrs by visiting memorial parks and commemorative plaque. To celebrate it at national level, a countrywide tribute is rendered at 1500 hours Washington time. Another ritual is to fly the US Flag at half-staff from dawn until local noon time. Volunteers place a US Flag upon each gravesite located in a National Cemetery.
Activities
Along with paying homage, Memorial Day is also a time for merry-making, outings, family get-togethers and adventurous sports. It is also a prevelant culture to view Memorial Day as the unofficial onset of summer season and Labor Day as the unofficial outset of the season. Some Americans also tribute the Memorial Day weekend to pay respect to any of the family members who have expired and not just servicemen. Also the Christian Church services on the Sunday prior to Memorial Day may also include recitation of the names of members who have died during the previous twelve months.
The Memorial Day officially was first celebrated in Waterloo , New York . The village was credited with being the birthplace because it observed the day on May 5, 1866, and each year thereafter, and because it is likely that the friendship of General John Murray, a distinguished citizen of Waterloo and General John A Logan, who led the call for the day to be observed each year and helped spread the event nationwide, was a key factor in its growth.
The Southeastern US celebrates Decoration Day by decorating the graves of all family members and this is not driven by the fact of being in military service or not. The county commemorates the Decoration Day on the Sunday before Memorial Day. Given its origin in the American Civil War, Memorial Day is not considered a holiday outside the US.