What was memorial day originally called

Federal holiday in the United States

For other uses, see Memorial Day (disambiguation).

"Decoration Day" redirects here. For other uses, see Decoration Day (disambiguation).

Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day)^[1] is one of the federal holidays in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S.

military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.^[2][3] It is observed on the last Monday of May. Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial beginning of summer in the United States.^[4]

It is a day for visiting cemeteries and memorials to mourn the military personnel who died in the line of duty.

Volunteers will place American flags on the graves of those military personnel in national cemeteries.^[5] Others such as family and friends will also come to lay flowers and grieve on the graves of those who died in the US military.

The first national observance of Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868.^[6] Then known as Decoration Day and observed on May 30, the h

when is memorial day in may 2025

when is memorial day in may 2026