25/05/2020
Hope all are safe! Thought I would give some info for the kids about Memorial Day... maybe some of you adults too!
By CHRIS MANDERIOLI
Memorial Day Facts For Kids:
-Memorial Day is celebrated to honor and remember all the men and women who died fighting for our country. These men and women dedicated their lives so we can be a free nation.Some people get Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day confused. Veteran’s Day is a day to honor all the men and women who have served in the US armed forces, Memorial Day is to honor those who lost their lives.
-Memorial Day is celebrated every year on the last Monday in May.
-Having a day to honor the soldiers who lost their lives started after the Civil War (1861-1865).
-The original name was Decoration Day.
-Decoration Day was started on May 5 1868 to honor union soldiers who died in the Civil War.
It was called Decoration Day because family members of fallen soldiers decorated their graves with flowers.
-The first service to honor fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery was held on May 30, 1868.
-Decoration Day originally only honored the soldiers who died in the Civil War. After World War I it was changed to all soldiers who lost their lives in war.
-On May 11, 1950, Decoration Day was changed to Memorial Day.
-President Richard Nixon declared Memorial Day a federal holiday in 1971.
-The official flower of Memorial Day are red poppies.
-People celebrate Memorial Day by placing flowers on soldier’s graves, flying flags at half-staff, attending parades and remembering soldiers who lost their lives.