Why Memorial Day?

The difference between Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day, we are reminded, is that the former honors the living who served their country in the military, while the latter honors those who died in the line of duty. And we have lots of people to honor today. The number of Americans who died for their country is 1.1 million.

Why May 30? It goes back to the original observances, just after the Civil War, in 1868. The plan was to decorate the graves of the slain with flowers. (Here in Oklahoma, we use this day, which some call “Decoration Day” to put flowers on the graves of all of our loved ones who have died.) On May 30, flowers are in bloom.

From A Memorial Day burnished by events that salute past service | The Seattle Timesj:

PAUSE a moment Monday to remember the 1.1 million Americans who have perished in the nation’s wars.

Indeed, the National Moment of Remembrance is 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. Congress passed a law in 2000, signed by President Clinton, which asks Americans to pause for a minute of silence in honor of fallen service members.
Decoration Day, the predecessor of Memorial Day, was formally announced on May 5, 1868, with the help of Union Army veterans. May 30 was chosen as the day to decorate Civil War graves with flowers.

Why the 30th? Proponents observed that flowers would be in bloom everywhere, and no specific major battle was recorded for that day.

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