Memorial Day -- formerly known as Decoration Day -- was first enacted to honor U. S. men and women who died while in military service after the Civil War by decorating their graves.
Memorial Day is also the unofficial beginning of summer -- vacations, shopping events, BBQ's, picnics, family gatherings, and sporting events.
Many still observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials and decorating graves.
In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day as a national holiday, celebrated on the last Monday in the month of May.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) noted in a 2002 Memorial Day address: Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed a lot to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day.
Memorial Day commemorates the U. S. men and women who have died while serving in the military. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 PM local time.
It's more than just a three-day weekend.
