Fleet News Daily Salutes Memorial Day…and the Weekend!

In many parts of the U.S., Memorial Day “officially” heralds the first day of summer.

Actually, Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday which occurs every year on the final Monday of May.  Its origins date back to the period after the American Civil War and was established to commemorate both the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in battle.

More specifically, Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5th 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on May 30th 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

Today, Memorial Day, formerly known as Declaration Day,  is designated as an official day of remembrance for those men and women who died while serving in  the U.S. Armed Forces.

Category: Featured, General Update