Memorial Day Celebrations

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Many parades and other special events are celebrated on Memorial Day however most people think of the memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery as the official event in the United States. Each year the President of the United States lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns (unofficially known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) and delivers a speech.

Other events are tied to Memorial Day such as the running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (also known as the Brickyard). These two events have been linked since 1911. When Congress passed the Uniform Holiday Reform act in 1968 which fixed Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, a three day weekend was created. This led to Memorial Day being recognized as the unofficial start of summer and many families and friends gather for outdoor parties and bar-b-ques on this weekend.

Memorial Day