The History of Memorial Day

The other great American holiday that has become one of family, picnics and fireworks is Memorial Day, not because of the nature of the celebration, but because of the time of year (last weekend of May) that the holiday is observed.

The actual basis of the holiday is to remember the men and women who served and died as members of the United States military branches. The holiday begins with sunrise services in various parks and cemeteries across the country to remember the fallen members of the military. Graves of all who served in the military are traditionally decorated with American Flags that day. Many communities mark the day with parades, and countless families use the holiday to mark the traditional beginning of summer, although the actual beginning of summer is on the summer solstice, which varies between June 20-22.

Legend has it that the first Memorial Day was celebrated in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, when soldiers were remembered at the end of the Civil War by three women of the town who decorated the graves of the local men who served in the military. Admittedly, there are other communities that also claim to have begun the tradition of Memorial Day.

Because Memorial Day has come to be celebrated in similar fashion to Independence Day with family gatherings, backyard barbecues and picnics, fireworks have become an integral part of many Memorial Day celebrations.

Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May.