USCIS 128:127. What is Memorial Day?

OpenAI. (2026).   What is Memorial Day?   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

Memorial Day is a national holiday that honors American soldiers and military members who died while serving the United States.  The holiday remembers people who gave their lives during wars, military conflicts, and military service.

Memorial Day is observed every year on the last Monday in May.

Many Americans visit cemeteries, monuments, and memorials to honor fallen service members.  People often place flowers and American flags on graves at military cemeteries such as Arlington National Cemetery.

The holiday began after the American Civil War, one of the deadliest wars in American history.  During the Civil War, more than 600,000 soldiers died fighting for the Union or the Confederacy.

After the war, communities across the country began decorating the graves of soldiers with flowers to honor the dead.  Because of this tradition, the holiday was first called Decoration Day.

In 1868, General John A. Logan called for a national day to decorate the graves of Union soldiers.  That same year, a large Decoration Day ceremony took place at Arlington National Cemetery.  Children, veterans, and families placed flowers on the graves of soldiers who died during the Civil War.  At that time, Arlington National Cemetery had once been the home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

Over time, the holiday expanded to honor all American military members who died in service, not only Civil War soldiers.

Memorial Day later honored Americans who died during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq after the September 11 attacks.

In 1971, Memorial Day officially became a federal holiday celebrated on the last Monday in May.  Many towns and cities hold parades, ceremonies, concerts, and memorial events.  Veterans groups, military organizations, scouts, schools, and community groups often participate in these ceremonies.

Many Americans also visit memorials such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the World War II Memorial.  American flags are often flown at half-staff during part of the day to honor the dead.  At 3:00 p.m., many Americans observe a National Moment of Remembrance to pause and honor fallen military members.

Memorial Day is different from Veterans Day.  Veterans Day honors all people who served in the U.S. military, while Memorial Day specifically honors those who died during military service.   

Memorial Day is also different from Armed Forces Day.  Armed Forces Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday in May to honor all active-duty military personnel currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Both occur during National Military Appreciation Month.

For many Americans, Memorial Day is both a day of remembrance and a time for family gatherings, picnics, sporting events, and community celebrations.  The holiday is often considered the unofficial beginning of summer in the United States.  However, the main purpose of Memorial Day is to remember the sacrifices made by members of the U.S. military who died protecting the country and defending American freedoms.