Memorial Day (US) 2022

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Memorial Day (30th May 2022) is a federal holiday (like a Bank Holiday in the UK) in the US that is dedicated to remembering the people who have died while serving in the armed forces. It was originially (from 1868 to 1970) commemorated on the 30th May, but is now observed on the last Monday in May.

It is difficult to find out where Memorial Day was first commemorated as many cities and people have claimed to have been the first to celebrate the day:

In 1861, Warrenton, Virginia was the location of the first Civil War socldier’s grave to be decorated. John Quincy Marr died during the Battle of Fairfax Courthouse in Virginia.
In 1868, General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic annouced a Decoration Day, which was widely celebrated.
Since 1868 Doylestown, Pennysylvania has held what it claims to be the nation’s oldest continuously running Memorial Day parade.
By 1890 every Northern State had adopted it as a holday, but this was minaly for the Civil War.
Some Southern public figures decided that the North had appropriated the day and added the word ‘Confederate’ to the naming of their day – Confederate Memorial Day was first celebrated in 1874, but in June.
After World War I and II the day turned into more of a generalised day of remembrance.
In 1971, Congress standardised the day to Memorial Day and changed the day to the last Monday in May.

In 2000, it became customary for people to stop and remember the fallen at 3.00pm.

On Memorial Day the flag of the United States is swiftly raised to full mast and then slowly lowered to half mast, where it will remain until noon. It is then raised to full mast for the rest of the day.

Thousands of parades are held on Memorial Day – usually featuring marching bands and attendance by various military and veteran members, and vehicles from each of the wars.