My daughter asked me about the meaning of Memorial Day. A tradition our family has is taking flowers to the cemetery of those we love; however, those we love did not serve in the military.
Memorial Day is in honor of those in service presently, past and deceased. It was first celebrated on May 5, 1868 for Union soldiers who had died in battle. Throughout the years, the tradition gained popularity; however, it was not declared the official name by Federal law until 1967. On June 28, 1968, the Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill which moved three holidays from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three-day weekend. The holidays included Washington's Birthday, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day. The change moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May. The law took effect at the federal level in 1971.
My family will continue our special tradition; however, my daughter's question was a great reminder of our "3-day weekend" and what it really means.
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