Memorial Day 2019 occurs on Monday, May 27. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Memorial Day is much more than just a three-day weekend, an excellent occasion for a backyard barbecue, and a chance to get the year’s first sunburn. Memorial Day is where we honor and pay tribute to the many brave generations who have fallen. All gave some, some gave all.
Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor those many heroes who have given so much to secure the freedoms we today take for granted here in the U.S. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.