Memorial Day Quiz

In the United States, Memorial Day is culturally recognized as the unofficial start of the summer season. It is followed by Labor Day, which is considered the unofficial end of summer.

In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a proclamation declaring Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of Memorial Day. This recognized the town's early tradition of closing businesses and decorating graves.

While Memorial Day had been observed for decades, it became an official federal holiday in 1971. This was established by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved the observance to the last Monday in May.

James Garfield, who later became the 20th US President, delivered a speech at Arlington National Cemetery on the first official Decoration Day in 1868. He was a former Union general at the time.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. It was a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers.

Originally, Decoration Day was intended to honor those who died in the Civil War. After World War I, the holiday evolved to honor American military personnel who died in all wars.

General John A. Logan, the commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued General Order No. 11 in 1868, which called for a national day of remembrance for the Civil War dead.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States armed forces.

Under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May. This ensures a three-day weekend for federal employees.