Memorial day was generally observed on may 30 the date logan had declared for the first decoration day until 1968 when congress passed the uniform monday holiday act which established memorial day as the last monday in may.
When was decoration day established. Decoration day is a canadian holiday that recognizes veterans of canada s military the holiday has mostly been eclipsed by the similar remembrance day. Is decoration day a public holiday. In 1868 the first year the holiday was ever observed memorial day was called decoration day and was established to honor all military personnel who had died during the us civil war. History of decoration day each year the president of liberia will issue a proclamation for this holiday in line with an act of the national legislature approved on october 24th 1916 which declared the second wednesday of march in each year to be known as decoration day and to be observed as a national holiday.
Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on memorial day to honor and. 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. Decoration day began on 2 june 1890. 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.
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. Originally the celebration served as a form of protest for veterans of the battle of ridgeway who felt that their contributions to the protection of canada during the fenian raids were being overlooked by. The law went into effect in 1971 and legally declared memorial day a federal holiday official memorial day ceremonies call for the president of the united states to lay. It is a day off for the general population and schools and most businesses are closed.
The holiday is now observed on the last monday of may having been observed on may 30 from 1868 to 1970.