To many Americans, Memorial Day, May 30, is nothing more than a three-day weekend heralding summer.
Its origins, of course, are more sober and poignant. It was called “Decoration Day” at first, because its purpose was to inspire citizens to decorate the grave of soldiers who had died in the Civil War. The first Decoration Day was observed on May 5, 1866, in Waterloo, NY.
After World War I, Decoration Day began to include ceremonies honoring the dead in all U.S. wars. Though the term “Memorial Day” was first used in the early 1880s, it wasn’t until after World War II that the name became more common. In 1967, a federal law officially identified it as Memorial Day, and in 1968 the Uniform Holidays Bill established it as one of three holidays (including Veteran’s Day and George Washington’s birthday, now called President’s Day) placed on the calendar to create a convenient three-day weekend. Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May.
Locally, City offices will be closed on Monday, May 30 in honor of Memorial Day. City View Cemetery will be the site of two ceremonies: https://www.pasco-wa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1342
Let us remember those who gave their all for our freedoms this weekend.
Original source can be found here.
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