Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May

each year. The holiday is observed to remember all of the

people who died while serving in the Armed Forces. The Armed

Forces includes the Navy, Army, Marines, Coast Guard, and Air

Force. Memorial Day was originally called “Decoration Day” after

the Civil War because the graves of the deceased were

decorated with flowers. In 1967 the name was changed to

Memorial Day.

On Memorial Day, many Americans visit cemeteries or

memorials to honor those who have died. Many times an

American flag is placed at the grave to show honor and respect.

Another way to show respect for the millions of men and women

who have given their lives for their country is to fly the

American flag at half-staff, which means halfway to the top of

the flagpole. The flag remains half-staff until noon to pay honor

to fallen soldiers. When it is raised up at noon it symbolizes the

those that are still living and fighting for our country.

Many cities and towns around the country have

Memorial Day parades that include marching bands, veterans and

current service men and women. Many confuse Memorial Day

with Veteran’s Day because both honor the Armed Forces but

Veteran’s Day honors those that are living and deceased.

Memorial DayBy: Jennifer Regan

©Two Little Birds

k1st Reading Memorial DayWhat does Memorial Day celebrate? Use evidence from the

text. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Why do people put flags on soldiers’

graves? ____________________________________________________________Evidence from the

text: ____________________________________________________________

What are the five branches of the Armed Forces?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The main idea of this whole passage is ____________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is paragraph 2 mostly about? Use evidence from the

text. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

©Two Little Birds

qqk

2nd Reading Memorial Dayhalf-staff

symbolize

Context Clues: _________________________________________________________

Meaning: _________________________________________________________

Context Clues: _________________________________________________________

Meaning: _________________________________________________________

Which of the following words could best replace the word observed in paragraph 1?a. noticedb. celebratedc. remembered

What is the structure of this text?a. Compare and contrastb. Chronological orderc. Description

©Two Little Birds