Memorial Day History

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Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day and was a day set aside to honor people who died in combat during the Civil War and World War I. Memorial Day only honors people who gave their lives in combat, which different from Veterans Day which honors anyone who ever served in the military. At the end of World War II the holiday was expanded to cover anyone who gives their lives while in military service. This holiday was originally fixed to the date of May 30th however in 1968 the United states Congress passed Uniform Holiday Act making fixing it to the last Monday in May giving millions of Americans a three day weekend. Many organization want to return the holiday to the fixed date of May 30th most notably the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). In 2002 the VFW launched an official campaign to further this cause.

Memorial Day