Memorial Day Provides Remembrance and Fun

Memorial Day, one of eleven federal holidays, occurs on the last Monday of May. The time of the holiday, its reason for existence and even its name have changed since the first time it was celebrated on May 30, 1868.

First called Decoration Day, the holiday was created to honor soldiers who died during the Civil War. After World I, it was described to include all men and women who died in any U.S. war or military action.  The name was changed to Memorial Day after World War II.

The holiday has become the unofficial designation of the beginning of summer and the hot weather activities that are associated with vacations and travel. It once held the strict fashion rule that white could be worn from the end of May until Labor Day. That fashion edict is commonly ignored today.

Flying the American flag and participating in celebrations at military locations remains a serious part of the day that gives a holiday to all nonessential government employees. People visit cemeteries to put flowers and flags on the graves of veterans. Many civilian institutions voluntarily provide a day off to their employees on Memorial Day.

The tributes to the military population have become secondary to the general feeling of celebrating the day in ways that bring families together. Traveling to family gatherings and places of fun now dominate the way people enjoy the time off. The traveling became popular after Memorial Day was moved from the 30th of May to the last Monday of the month. This provided three days off from work.

In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed by the U.S. Congress to use many federal holidays to create three-day weekends. The three-day holidays started in 1971. With three days off from work and school, the increased amount of automobile traffic becomes both a nuisance and a safety hazard to travelers.

The name of Memorial Day changed with its original meaning and designated date. Seeing the number of American flags that fly in front of houses during the holiday help emphasize the feelings of honor, courage and sacrifice citizens feel towards our veterans. These feelings are the real reason we celebrate the holiday.

Thanks for reading this blog. Check for another subject in this space during the first days of June. See my web site at www.joevlatino.com where you will find an excerpt from my book, "The Device."