Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the last Monday in May. It commemorates the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and was first observed in 1868. It became a national holiday in 1971. The holiday is often marked by parades, speeches, and visits to cemeteries and memorials.
Memorial Day, also known as Decoration Day, is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the last Monday in May. It commemorates the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. In 2025, Memorial Day will be observed on Monday, May 26.
Memorial Day was first established in 1868 by General John A. Logan, the commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans. Logan designated May 30 as a day to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and flags. The holiday was originally known as Decoration Day, but it was later renamed Memorial Day in 1967.
