Origins: Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and started after the Civil War to honor Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the conflict.
First Observance: The first widely recognized observance of Decoration Day was on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery.
State Recognition: New York was the first state to officially recognize Memorial Day as a holiday in 1873.
Waterloo, New York: In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day because the town had been holding annual events to honor soldiers since 1866.
Uniform Monday Holiday Act: In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May to create a three-day weekend.
National Moment of Remembrance: In 2000, Congress established a National Moment of Remembrance, asking Americans to pause for a minute at 3 p.m. local time to honor fallen soldiers.
Symbolic Red Poppies: The tradition of wearing red poppies on Memorial Day was inspired by the World War I poem "In Flanders Fields." The poppies symbolize the blood shed by soldiers and are a way to honor their sacrifice.
Flag Etiquette: On Memorial Day, the American flag is flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon, then raised briskly to the top of the staff until sunset.
Arlington National Cemetery Tradition: Each year, the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as "The Old Guard," places American flags at the graves of fallen soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery.
Expanding Remembrance: While originally established to honor those who died in the Civil War, Memorial Day now honors all American military personnel who have died in all wars.