Memorial Day is a holiday that has evolved dramatically over the years. Memorial Day observances began after the Civil War to honor the Union soldiers who gave their lives in the conflict. They were expanded after World War I to become a tribute to the dead of all the nation’s wars.
When Memorial Day began, the war dead were placed front and center. The holiday’s original name, Decoration Day, came from the day’s main activity: leaving flowers at cemeteries.
More recently, the last Monday in May, and the weekend preceding it, has come to mark the unofficial beginning of summer for many. Along with parades doused in red, white and blue, cook-outs in the backyard and excursions to the local beach fill the long weekend.
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