Memorial Day ~ 2026

Memorial Day began after the American Civil War, one of the deadliest wars in U.S. history. So many soldiers had died that communities across the country started holding local ceremonies to honor them. People decorated the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, flags, and wreaths. That’s why the holiday was originally called “Decoration Day.”

One of the earliest large observances took place in 1868 when General John A. Logan, leader of a Union veterans organization called the Grand Army of the Republic, officially proclaimed a national day of remembrance. The first major ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery, where both Union and Confederate soldiers were buried.

At first, the holiday mainly honored soldiers who died in the Civil War. After World War I, it expanded to honor all American military personnel who died in service to the country.

For many years, Memorial Day was observed on May 30th no matter what day of the week it fell on. In 1971, the United States government moved it to the last Monday in May as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, creating a three-day weekend.

Over time, Memorial Day also became connected with the unofficial start of summer — parades, family cookouts, trips to the shore, and cemetery visits became part of the tradition. But at its heart, the day has always been about remembering those who never came home from war.

And especially remember the families they left behind.
For many people, Memorial Day is more than a long weekend — it’s a quiet moment to stop and think about the young men and women who gave their lives, and the parents, spouses, children, brothers, sisters, and friends who carried that loss forever.

May they all remain in our prayers and never be forgotten, Lets keep them in our prays

Read this post from the 2019 memorial day parade on how my friends and i would Go The memorial day parade in the 1950’s