11 Amazing Facts About Memorial Day In The United States

With the excitement of a three-day weekend and the anticipation of summer, it can be easy to overlook the true significance of Memorial Day. While it's a time to relax and enjoy with family, it's primarily a day for honoring and remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Here are eleven little-known facts about Memorial Day that you can share with your children.

Memorial Day Origin

The first fact is that Memorial Day was first recognized on May 30, 1868, to honor the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers. General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic issued a proclamation establishing the day of commemoration.

On this inaugural date, former Union General James Garfield delivered a speech at Arlington National Cemetery. Following the speech, approximately 5,000 participants gathered to adorn the graves of over 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.

Memorial Day's history: before, they called it Decoration Day.

The second fact must be mentioned that Memorial Day is observed in commemoration of those who have lost their lives while serving our nation. It was formerly known as Decoration Day, after the old custom of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags. After the Civil War (1861-1865) ended, they made the first national cemeteries in the USA since it was the deadliest war ever fought. In the spring, they would pay tribute to the dead soldiers, and a lot of folks would "decorate" their graves with flowers.

The Origins of Early Memorial Day Observances

The fact that it is uncertain exactly where this custom came from; the memorial events may have been independently started by several distinct communities. Further documentation reveals that a group of former slaves in Charleston, South Carolina, less than a month after the Confederacy's surrender in 1865, planned one of the first Memorial Day celebrations. Still, the federal government recognized Waterloo, New York, as the official site of Memorial Day's founding in 1966. 

After World War II, it got the name Memorial Day.

After World War II, the term "Memorial Day" gained broader usage. However, it wasn't until 1967 that the federal government formally adopted that name. The holiday was shifted to the final Monday of May by the Uniform Holidays Bill of 1968. Veterans Day, which was first scheduled to fall on a Monday, was removed from the list of official holidays and returned to its original date of November 11, 1978. Is this fact surprising you?

In the United States, Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer.

The unexpected fact is that summer officially begins for many on Memorial Day when they enjoy picnics, barbecues, and other outdoor events. On a more upbeat note, many individuals take weekend getaways or host parties and barbecues on Memorial Day, maybe because the long weekend preceding Memorial Day and Memorial Day itself unofficially marks the start of summer.

On Memorial Day, from sunrise until noon, the flag is flown at half-staff.

Another astonishing fact is that in remembrance of the country's war heroes, the flag on Memorial Day should only be flown at half-staff from dawn until noon, and then quickly hoisted to the top of the staff until dusk.

The flag was flown at half-staff in the early days of our nation without any laws, which led to a lot of contradictory practices. However, President Dwight Eisenhower made a proclamation at the appropriate time on March 1, 1954.

Cemetery visits are common on Memorial Day.

When a loved one passes away while serving their country in the military, people honor their memory by laying flowers or flags on their graves. As a symbol of remembering those who have died in battle, some individuals wear red poppies, a custom that dates back to 1917. This fact is reasonable, right?

Veterans Day and Memorial Day are not the same holiday.

Veterans Day honors all those who have served their country throughout history, while Memorial Day pays tribute to those who lost their lives while doing so. In addition, Armed Forces Day, a third holiday, honors people who are in active military service. Don't make mistake after knowing this fact. 

US service members have lost more than 1.3 million of their lives in conflicts.

The United States erupted into a civil war in the middle of the 19th century that turned out to be the worst struggle in American history and foreshadowed the carnage of the 20th century worldwide as well as the killing of the Western Front in World War I. Between 1861 and 1865, almost 620,000 American soldiers lost their lives. This amount is roughly equal to all American casualties from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, and Korean War put together. The death rate from the Civil War was six times higher than that of World War II when considering the size of the American population. Six million people would die in the US today at a comparable rate of roughly two percent. This fact reflects the consequences of the war. 

Americans wear poppies on Memorial Day.

On Memorial Day, people wear poppies. The poem "In Flanders Fields," written in 1915 by a Canadian soldier, served as the original inspiration for the custom of wearing red roses.

Arlington National Cemetery.

The Tomb of the Unknowns is located in the Arlington National Cemetery. This monument honors the memory of fallen American soldiers, both male and female. As of this now, the identities of these soldiers' remains remain unknown.

Final Word

Do any of those details catch you off guard? Have a great three-day weekend with your family, but don't forget to educate your kids on the true meaning of Memorial Day and honor the countless people who gave their lives in defense of our nation. I wish you a wonderful Memorial Day!

Besides grabbing the interesting facts about Memorial Day, you can create various activities like dealing with worksheets, playing printable games, and more. All are available in our Memorial Day Worksheets.

Read more: Top 9 Must-Watch Memorial Day Movies For Children