Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States dedicated to honoring and mourning U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. In 2026, Memorial Day will be observed on Monday, May 25. The holiday originated after the American Civil War, when communities began decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, flags, and other tributes. Originally known as Decoration Day, it gradually became a broader national observance for Americans killed in all U.S. wars and military conflicts.

The exact origins of Decoration Day were celebrated and organized in several communities during the years following the Civil War, although the federal government designated May 30 as the traditional date for many decades. In 1971, Memorial Day became a federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May, creating a three-day weekend. Its historical purpose remains remembrance rather than celebration, distinguishing it from Veterans Day, which honors all who have served in the U.S. military, living or deceased. Memorial Day also marks the unofficial beginning of summer in American public life, though commemorative ceremonies remain at its core.

Common Memorial Day traditions include placing American flags and flowers on the graves of service members, attending military or civic ceremonies, visiting national cemeteries, and participating in local parades. At Arlington National Cemetery, the president or another senior national official traditionally delivers remarks, and the 3:00 p.m. local-time National Moment of Remembrance encourages Americans to pause for one minute of reflection. Many families also observe the holiday through church services, historical programs, and displays of the flag at half-staff until noon, followed by full-staff display.

Memorial Day weekend is also associated with community gatherings, outdoor picnics, barbecues, baseball games, and the Indianapolis 500, which is traditionally held around the holiday weekend. Popular foods include grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, barbecue, potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, fruit salads, and patriotic desserts decorated in red, white, and blue. Although “Happy Memorial Day” is widely heard, a more respectful greeting is “Have a meaningful Memorial Day,” “Wishing you a reflective Memorial Day,” or “Thank you for remembering our fallen service members.”