What do you know about Memorial
Day?
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering
the people who died while serving in the country’s
armed forces. The holiday
is observed every year on the last Monday of May. It
typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.
Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to
honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an
American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.
On Memorial Day, the flag of the United States is raised
briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff
position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised
to full-staff for the remainder of the day.
The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and
women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon, their memory
is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but
to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for
all.
The National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the west lawn of the United
States Capitol. Music is performed, and
respect is paid to the men and women who gave their lives for their country.
For many Americans, the central event is attending one of the
thousands of parades held on Memorial Day in large and small cities all over
the country. Most of these feature marching bands and an overall military theme
with the National Guard and other servicemen participating along with veterans
and military vehicles from various wars.
One of the longest-standing traditions is the running of the
Indianapolis 500, an auto race which has been held in conjunction with Memorial
Day since 1911. It runs on the Sunday
preceding the Memorial Day holiday.
In 2000, Congress passed the National Moment of
Remembrance Act, asking
people to stop and remember at 3:00 P.M.
How do we honor the 1.8 million that gave their life for America
since 1775? How do we thank them for
their sacrifice? Memorial Day is one
way and one day to remember