Quote:
Originally Posted by ferretchucker
What's memorial weekend?
|
It's a time to honor our dead.
This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action.
Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 9 p.m. US Eastern time. Another tradition is to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers place an American flag upon each grave site located in a National Cemetery. It honored the troops who fought in the war and died.
In addition to remembrance, Memorial Day is also a time for picnics, barbecues, family gatherings, and sporting events. One of the longest standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911. Some Americans also view Memorial Day as the unofficial beginning of summer.
Many Americans use Memorial Day to also honor any family members who have died, not just servicemen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day