Memorial Day 2007

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who died in service to our country. Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday in 1971, to be celebrated on the last Monday of May.

Originally know as Decoration Day, it is believed that Memorial day started in the United States after the Civil War to remember fallen Union soldiers. This might be true, because eight southern states hold a separate memorial day for fallen Confederate soldiers.

About 5,000 people attend the Memorial Day ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery each year. A small American flag is placed on each grave and the President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Ways You Might Celebrate Memorial Day:

  • visit cemeteries and war memorials and place flags or flowers
  • attend Memorial Day parades or your local VFW hall
  • fly the US flag at half-staff until noon
  • add the POW/MIA flag to your flagpole
  • participate in National Moment of Remembrance at 3 PM (local time)
  • view the National Memorial Day Concert

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