Memorial Day Celebrations Across the US
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, honors all soldiers who died during service to the nation. Its roots date back to the Civil War era, and it was declared a national holiday through an act of Congress in 1971. Unlike Veterans Day, Memorial Day honors all military members who have died while serving in U.S. forces. The holiday is observed on the last Monday of May and is marked by placing flowers and small American flags on veterans' graves.