By Jillian Tresca '24
Memorial Day is one of the biggest holidays in the United States, and this year it falls on May 31, 2021 (the last Monday of May). The idea of Memorial Day originates from the very old Greek customs of honoring soldiers when they died in battle. At its core, this day is meant to honor the many lives lost in war so that their memory and what they did for our country can be remembered.
This holiday was not actually always called Memorial Day, but instead Decoration Day, because it was the day where people would place flowers and pay their respects to the graves of those who sacrificed their lives in battle. This holiday is not just for the remembrance of the fallen soldiers, but it is also a way to give their families pride in knowing that their loved ones' deaths were not in vain. The tradition of decorating soldiers' burial places has continued, in fact the biggest part of Memorial Day is the ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, in which flags are placed on all the graves as both a respectful homage and as a reminder that the lives were lost so that their country could remain free.
Initially, in 1868, the holiday was to solely commemorate the lives of the soldiers who had died during the Civil War. It was not until after WWI that the holiday would be celebrated for all the lives sacrificed in war. Although there are many versions of the creation of Memorial Day, the most recognized is that it was created by General John A. Logan, who chose May 30th because no Civil War battle had occurred on this day, so it was the day to remind America of all the lives lost in this war without their minds shifting to those lost in one specific battle. Since then, the day changed to the last Monday of May but it has retained its significance. The holiday was not even acknowledged until 1971, when it became a Federal holiday.
Today, there are many parades held on Memorial Day as a bigger, more noticeable way of remembrance. This is very different from the more quiet and sentimental decorating of graves some people may do, but is just as important of a tradition nevertheless. While for many in America Memorial Day may just seem like a fun four day weekend, it is so much more. It is a day of remembrance, honor, celebration and, for many, grief.
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