To Observe a National Moment of Remembrance Is Under the Law

From its post-war roots and its development over the last 150 years to become the patriotic season-marking holiday, many memorial day facts are not known by many. One of these is the law passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton in 2000, requiring all Americans to observe a moment of silence at 3 pm on Memorial Day.

Apart from this, another strict timeline people must observe is how the flag should be positioned. The flag must be raised before noon at half-mast and then lifted to the full mast before sunset on Memorial Day.

Memorial Day Had a Different Name Before

During the early 1800s and for more than a century, though many people use the term Memorial Day, the holiday’s official name was Decoration Day. The name was only changed officially to Memorial Day in 1971when Congress placed the celebration every last Monday of May.

Decoration Day was the chosen name before because flowers and flags were placed on the soldier’s graves as a way of honoring them, dying at the service of our country. It is the same to this day; many loved ones still follow this tradition of decorating the graves.

Civil War: After The War, The Holiday Was Established

The war ended in the spring of 1865, and among all battles, this war had taken the highest number of lives – about 620 000 soldiers died- that it required the founding of the first national cemeteries in the country.

Within around a decade, Americans have conducted ceremonies every spring in many places to commemorate the fallen soldiers by decorating their graves. It had become customary and found its way as a national holiday.

Several Cities claim the Birthplace of Memorial Day.

President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed Waterloo, New York, as the “Birthplace of Memorial Day,” referring to a town hosted in 1866. Other places, however, are proclaiming they had celebrated holiday way before Waterloo did, and it remains in dispute exactly where the first celebration took place.

It Falls in May for A Reason

Maj. Gen. John A. Logan (who was the head of the Grand Army of the Republic, an association of Union vets) declared that the holiday was celebrated at the end of May in May 1868, three years after the Civil War ended. He picked the date in part because it didn’t come on the same day like any other battle’s anniversary.

But he is often believed to have picked the date because it is the start of early summer and the rebirth of spring where flowers are in full bloom all over the United States. The supply of flowers will be abundantly accessible for decorating soldiers’ graves.

Traffic is highest during Memorial Day Weekend.

Memorial Day signals the busiest weekend in America. An estimated number of 32 million Americans hit the road, traveling every Memorial Weekend. It is no surprise that highways are jam-packed with cars, especially those considered as summer destinations.

Takeaway

Memorial Day is a lot more than just a three-day holiday and the time to relax and enjoy the summer heat. This holiday is a moment to remember our beloved soldiers, men, and women who have given their lives for the country.