Decoration day has been celebrated for hundreds of years in the american south.
Decoration day usa. Memorial day is observed on the last monday of may. Three years after the civil war ended on may 5 1868 the head of an organization of union veterans the grand army of the republic gar established decoration day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. The united states armed forces awards and decorations are primarily the medals service ribbons and specific badges which recognize military service and personal accomplishments while a member of the u s. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on memorial day and it is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season.
Memorial day previously but now seldom called decoration day is a federal holiday in the united states for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died while serving in the united states armed forces. It was formerly known as decoration day and commemorates all men and women who have died in military service for the united states. The holiday is now observed on the last monday of may having been observed on may 30 from 1868 to 1970. Such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a service member s career.
First established as decoration day after the civil war the holiday was set aside for families and friends to visit and decorate the graves of troops lost in the conflict. Originally called decoration day from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers wreaths and flags memorial day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on memorial day to honor and. Although the term memorial day was used beginning in the 1880s the holiday was officially known as decoration day for more than.