If you’re in the US, you might be enjoying a three-day weekend thanks to Memorial Day, which takes place in late May each year. But the day is more than just that and the start of summer, and in this post we’ll talk about the true meaning of Memorial Day, what the red poppy has to do with it, and where its official birthplace is.
History of Memorial Day
Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday of May and is a federal holiday in the United States to commemorate the men and women who gave their lives while serving in the U.S. military. People visit memorials and cemeteries to honor them by placing an American flag on the graves of the deceased.
Memorial Day was created in response to the losses suffered by American soldiers during the Civil War that ended in 1865. Soon after, Americans from various states began to honor the fallen by decorating their graves with flowers and flags and praying for their resting souls. As a result, the day was also called Decoration Day until 1967.
Shortly after the Civil War, the United States entered into conflict with others in World War I, then World War II, and all the other wars that followed. Memorial Days have since evolved as a way to remember American soldiers who died in all wars, including those in Vietnam, Korea, and Afghanistan.
