Memorial Day in the U.S. is observed on Monday, May 27, with some using it as a day to relax, while others see it as a day of mourning. The first Memorial Day observance took place on May 5, 1868, known as Decoration Day. President Lyndon B. Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1966. Memorial Day became a floating federal holiday on Jan. 1, 1971, moving to the last Monday in May. Since 1775, 651,031 American troops have died in battle, with around 1.3 million active-duty service members currently in the U.S. armed forces.
More than 10,000 people participate in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., each year, with Arlington National Cemetery receiving over 135,000 visitors during the holiday weekend. Approximately 260,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery are decorated with American flags on Memorial Day. Memorial Day weekend is a busy time for travel, with over 43 million Americans expected to travel, and 38.4 million planning road trips. National meat sales are projected to reach $1.3 billion during Memorial Day celebrations and gatherings this year.
The Civil War, which ended in 1865 with an estimated 620,000 deaths, led to the first Memorial Day observance in 1868. President Johnson’s proclamation in 1966 designated Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of Memorial Day, amidst the ongoing Vietnam War. The Vietnam War, spanning from 1955 to 1975, had lasted 11 years at that point. Memorial Day officially became a floating federal holiday in 1971, shifting to the last Monday in May. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reported that from 1775 to 1991, 651,031 troops died in battle.
Currently, there are around 1.3 million active-duty service members in the U.S. armed forces, supported by over 778,000 civilian personnel and 767,000 National Guard and Reserve service members. The National Memorial Day Parade in D.C. sees participation from over 10,000 people each year, while Arlington National Cemetery receives more than 135,000 visitors during the holiday weekend. On Memorial Day, around 260,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery are decorated with American flags. Memorial Day weekend is a popular time for travel, with over 43 million Americans expected to travel, and national meat sales reaching $1.3 billion during celebrations and gatherings.
Memorial Day serves as a day of remembrance for the sacrifices made by American troops, with the first observance taking place after the Civil War in 1868. Waterloo, New York is recognized as the birthplace of Memorial Day, with the holiday becoming a floating federal holiday in 1971. The National Memorial Day Parade in D.C. features over 10,000 participants, while Arlington National Cemetery receives more than 135,000 visitors during the holiday weekend. With 260,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery decorated with American flags, Memorial Day weekend is also a popular time for travel and barbecues, with national meat sales reaching $1.3 billion during celebrations.
