8 Things You Might Not Know About Memorial Day
Even though Memorial Day is vulnerable to being seen as another holiday to go out on a trip to the beach or barbecuing with your friends, it is much more than that. The Memorial Day is celebrated annually in the memory of American soldiers, honouring their sacrifices. It is a national day marked to give a salutation to the countless brave-hearts who give it their all for our country.
On this incredible day, here are 8 things you might now know about Memorial Day:
• The National Moment of Remembrance:
On 28th December, 2000, President Clinton designated 15:00 local time on the Memorial Day as the National Moment of Remembrance, by signing the National Moment of Remembrance Act.
• The fixed date:
For several years, May 30 of every year was marked as the Memorial Day. However, the last Monday of May was established as the official date of the federal holiday by the Congress, in 1971. Also, the day was not always called the Memorial Day, as it was initially referred to as Decoration Day.
• The Confederate Observances:
Although the Memorial Day initially begun as an honour to the Union Soldiers, over the years some states conduct Confederate observances. In Tennessee, the date is known as the Confederate Decoration Day, while Louisiana conducts it on June 3. The twin Carolinas celebrate it on May 10, while Alabama celebrates it on the 4th Monday every April. Georgia celebrates it on 26th of April, while Mississippi observes it as the Confederate Memorial Day on the last Monday of April.
• Original honouring:
Initially, the Memorial Day was celebrated to honour the military men who sacrificed their life in the Civil War of 1861 to 1865 only. Later, personnel who fought in other wars for the country were also included.
• The deadliest war:
The Civil War was touted as one of the worst wars for a reason – nearly 620,000 Americans were killed in the civil war. To give you a perspective, all the other wars combined have claimed about 620,000 American lives.
• The Gathering:
The gathering that were present at Arlington National Cemetery on the first Memorial Day ceremony was almost the same in size relative to those which attend today's observance: nearly 5,000 people
• Red Poppies tradition:
Being carried on as a tradition to honour the military personnel that sacrificed their lives, Red Poppies are worn by the people, acting as a national symbol of remembrance of the brave-hearts.
• The official birthplace of Memorial Day:
Memorial Day is famously celebrated by several independent communities across the country, honouring the soldiers over the years. However, the official birthplace of Memorial Day was announced to be Waterloo in New York, by the federal government. On May 5, 1866, the holiday was celebrated for the first time, in Waterloo.
Irrespective of Union or Confederate, each of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives are duly remembered. Celebrating the Memorial Day surely reminds each American of the mutual love shared by every citizen towards the nation!