For many Americans, the last Monday of May marks the unofficial start of summer. Families gather for backyard barbecues, community pools open their doors, and friends head to the beach for a long weekend. The holiday is deeply rooted in American history. It serves a specific and solemn purpose: honoring the men and women who died while serving in the United States military.

1. It Was Originally Called Decoration Day

General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance in 1868. He chose May 30 to designate "Decoration Day." The purpose was to decorate the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country. The name eventually shifted to Memorial Day, though the original title was used well into the 20th century.

2. The Date Used To Be Fixed On May 30

For decades, Americans observed the holiday specifically on May 30, regardless of the day of the week it fell on. This changed when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968. The legislation moved four holidays, including Memorial Day, to specified Mondays to create convenient three-day weekends for federal employees. The change officially went into effect in 1971.

3. It Became An Official Federal Holiday In 1971

Even though communities had been celebrating the holiday for over a century, it took a long time to become recognized on a federal level. The same 1968 legislation that moved the date to the last Monday of May also declared Memorial Day a national holiday.

4. The Tradition Of The Red Poppy

Many people wear artificial red poppies to honor fallen soldiers. This tradition was inspired by the 1915 poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae. The poem mentions the red poppies that grew quickly over the graves of fallen soldiers in Belgium. Moina Michael, an American professor, later championed the idea of wearing red poppies as a symbol of remembrance.

5. The Flag Flies At Half-Staff Until Noon

There is a very specific protocol for flying the American flag on this holiday. At dawn, the flag should be briskly raised to full-staff, then solemnly lowered to half-staff position. It remains there until noon. At exactly noon, it is raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The morning honors those who died, while the afternoon honors living veterans.

6. Arlington National Cemetery Gets A Flag At Every Grave

Every year, before the holiday weekend begins, soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment place small American flags in front of every single headstone at Arlington National Cemetery. This tradition is known as "Flags In." The soldiers placed over 250,000 flags, ensuring every fallen service member is honored.

7. The First Indianapolis 500 Took Place On Memorial Day

The Indianapolis 500 is one of the most famous car races in the world. The very first race took place on Memorial Day in 1911. Ray Harroun won the inaugural race with an average speed of 74.6 miles per hour. Today, the race remains a staple of the holiday weekend.

Honoring The True Meaning Of The Holiday

As you prepare your grill and pack your beach bags this year, take a few moments to reflect on the history behind the long weekend. Sharing these fun facts with your loved ones is a great way to keep the true spirit of the holiday alive. By pausing at 3:00 PM or simply understanding the meaning behind the red poppy, you can help ensure that the sacrifices of American service members are never forgotten.