The F.U.N. Place - Memorial Day

Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of the summer holidays in the United States. This three-day weekend has become a traditional time for celebration and family outings. Memorial Day itself is actually May 30, but is observed in most states on the last Monday in May.

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. The holiday was first proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers. The South refused to acknowledge Decoration Day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I. Memorial Day is now celebrated as a day to remember all U.S. men and women killed or missing in action in all wars. Flags are used to decorate the graves of these men and women on Memorial Day.

United States Flag Code (36 US Code 10) states that the U.S. flag should be flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day.