A DAY TO HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY

Memorial Day

Memorial Day Facts

What is a memorial? A memorial is something that honors and remembers

a person or thing.Who are we honoring and remembering?

Soldiers who have died while serving in the military.

Memorial Day History

Americans celebrate Memorial Day on the last Monday of May.

The first Memorial Day occurred in 1868, after the American Civil War.

It used to be called “Decoration Day”.

It was made an official federal holiday in 1971.

Memorial Day also marks the beginning of summer.

What Do People Do on Memorial Day?

People decorate the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

People say thank you to soldiers and veterans. Veterans are people who

used to serve in the military.People have parades and

bands play patriotic music. Patriotic (adj): loving the

countrySchools, banks, and

government offices are closed.

Other Activities on Memorial Day

Flags fly at half-mast. This is a sign of

respect.The president gives a

speech and puts a wreath in front of the Tomb of the Unknowns.

The Tomb of the Unknowns

The Tomb of the Unknown is a memorial in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC. Tomb (n): grave Unknown (adj, n): not known

It honors all unknown soldiers who have died.

The Tomb Guards

A guard is always walking back and forth in front of the tomb.

In the summer, the guards change every 30 minutes. In the winter, they change every hour.

“The changing of the guard” is a special ceremony. The commanding officer carefully checks the new guard to make sure he is neat and professional.