By Chase Cowan
Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday of May, and many people don’t even know why it is celebrated. According to a study by Endeavor Analytics and YouGov, only 46 percent of adults correctly identify why we celebrate Memorial Day. It is celebrated to honor military service members who lost their lives in military conflict. Another 45 percent of the respondents concluded that an appropriate way to celebrate Memorial Day is to wish a military veteran a “happy Memorial Day.” While they have good intentions, there is a clear lack of knowledge on the reason we celebrate this holiday. Veteran’s Day is observed on November 11, and celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, both living and deceased, but especially those who are still alive. The main difference between Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day is that Memorial Day celebrates the soldiers who have fallen in combat and is generally a more somber holiday.
Memorial Day started to be celebrated in the years following the Civil War to honor soldiers who had died in battle. The holiday was first celebrated on May 30, 1868, when General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic called for a national day of remembrance. Communities across the country gathered to place flowers on the graves of fallen Union and Confederate soldiers, which became known as Decoration Day. The date was chosen because it did not coincide with any specific battle and was meant to be a peaceful day.
Over time, Memorial Day evolved into a national observance honoring all U.S. military personnel who died in service. After World War I, the holiday expanded beyond Civil War casualties to include soldiers from all conflicts that America was involved in. In 1971, Congress officially declared Memorial Day a federal holiday, placing it on the last Monday in May to create a three-day weekend. While often associated with parades, ceremonies, and the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day remains a solemn occasion dedicated to remembering the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces.
Veteran’s Day was originally named Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. It was later renamed Veteran’s Day by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954 to include all American veterans. According to the Memorial Day Foundation, some ways to celebrate veteran’s day are to attend parades, donate to veteran’s charities, and simply expressing appreciation to veterans by saying “Thank you for your service.” According to the Wounded Warrior Project, another way to celebrate Veteran’s Day is to visit military cemeteries. Although Veteran’s Day is usually meant to celebrate veterans who are alive, it is also important to respect veterans who might not have died in combat, but of old age. Their service is just as important.
Graphic by Ryder Navarra
