Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Memorial day as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I , the United States found itself embroiled in other major conflict and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars. For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees, the change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day federal holiday. Cities and towns across  the United States host Memorial Day parades each year, often incorporating military personnel and members of veterans’ organization. Some of the largest parades take place in Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C.