Memorial Day 2023: Memorial Day, commonly known as Decorations Day, is a federal holiday observed annually in the United States. The day recognizes and mourns the sacrifice of fallen American soldiers. It is usually observed on the last Monday of May, which falls on May 29 this year.
Memorial Day 2023: History
During the war, women took the lead in developing the tradition of increasingly formal grave decoration. On May 5, 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War, the leader of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a group of Union veterans, established Decoration Day as a day to celebrate Water decorates the graves of soldiers. fallen soldiers with flowers. Major General John A. Logan chose May 30 as that date.
According to a History Channel report, “May 30, 1868 was designated for the purpose of strewing flowers or decorating the graves of comrades who died defending the fatherland during the late uprising and their bodies Currently located in most cities, villages, and cemeteries on the mainland.
States began officially recognizing the day as a holiday in 1873, starting with New York. Every state in the Union adopted it later in 1890. However, Congress moved the holiday’s observance to the last Monday in May 1971, standardizing it as ‘Memorial Day’. ‘.
Memorial Day 2023: Meaning
On Memorial Day, many people visit graves and memorials to remember and pay their respects to those who died while serving in the United States military. At national cemeteries, many volunteers place American flags on the graves of soldiers. Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial start of summer.
Memorial Day Traditions
Memorial Day parades are held in towns and cities across the country, with members of the armed forces and veterans groups participating. Chicago, New York and Washington, DC host some of the largest parades.
Some general customs, as opposed to specific events leading up to the national declaration, include placing flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers. In the United States, both before and during the American Civil War, soldiers’ graves were decorated. At national cemeteries, many volunteers place American flags on the graves of soldiers.
Visiting cemeteries and memorials is another way Americans celebrate Memorial Day. A tradition that began with a poem about World War I is the wearing of a crimson poppy to commemorate those who died in battle.
Fun facts about Memorial Day 2023
- General John A. Logan decided to hold the celebration in May because this was the blooming season.
- Arlington Cemetery, a military cemetery, covers an area of 472 football fields or 624 acres and has nearly 400,000 graves!
- Arlington National Cemetery held its inaugural Memorial Day ceremony there in 1868. President James A. Garfield gave a two-hour speech on the importance of Memorial Day to more than 5,000 attendees.
- The custom of giving silk poppies to honor dead soldiers was inspired by the World War I poem “In Flanders Field.”
- The national flag is flown at half-mast from dawn to noon on Memorial Day to commemorate the martyrs. At night, it is raised to its full height to symbolize the hope of surviving death.
- According to reports, a maximum of 38 million people crossed the border to pay tribute to the martyrs.
Memorial Day is considered one of the civic activities with community participation. Hanging flags on soldiers’ graves means a lot to members of our community who have military families. The day values sentiment and enthusiasm for sacrificing one’s life for one’s homeland.
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Source: pagasa.edu.vn