Understanding Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States holiday observed to honor fallen military members. While it officially mourns those who died in service, it has grown into a marker for the unofficial start of summer, accompanied by a weekend of travel and retail discounts.
When Is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day occurs on the last Monday of May each year. In 2020, this day falls on May 25.
Purpose of Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a time for reflection and remembrance of those who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military. The Congressional Research Service emphasizes it as a day of honor. Part of the observance includes the National Moment of Remembrance. Americans are encouraged to pause at 3 p.m. for a moment of silence.
Origins of Memorial Day
The roots of Memorial Day trace back to the American Civil War (1861-1865). This conflict resulted in over 600,000 deaths among soldiers from both the Union and Confederate armies. The first national observance, known then as Decoration Day, was held on May 30, 1868. Union veterans called for the decoration of war graves with flowers.
Waterloo, New York formally observed the holiday on May 5, 1866, earning the title of its birthplace. Yet, Boalsburg, Pennsylvania claims its initial observance in October 1864. Women in some Confederate states decorated graves even before the war ended.
Yale history professor David Blight points to an event on May 1, 1865, in Charleston, South Carolina, where around 10,000 people, predominantly Black, paraded and dedicated Union graves. After being buried in a mass grave, families from Black churches later reburied them individually.
Early Controversy Around Memorial Day
The New York Times, in 1869, cautioned that the holiday could lose its sacredness, focusing more on festivities than on remembrance. In an 1871 speech, Frederick Douglass expressed concern that Americans might forget that the Civil War aimed to end enslavement.
Despite the service of approximately 180,000 Black soldiers in the Union Army, historian Ben Railton noted that the holiday often mirrored “white Memorial Day,” especially in Jim Crow South communities.
In the 1880s, President Grover Cleveland’s choice to fish on the holiday received criticism. However, the inaugural Indianapolis 500 race in 1911 did not seem to provoke controversy.
Transformation of Memorial Day
Matthew Dennis, a history professor, noted Memorial Day’s significance waned following the introduction of Armistice Day after World War I (ended November 11, 1918). Armistice Day became a national holiday by 1938, later renamed Veterans Day in 1954.
In 1971, Congress shifted Memorial Day to the last Monday of May. This change created a three-day weekend, modifying Memorial Day into a broader remembrance for the deceased and a day for leisure.
By 1972, Time Magazine described it as “a three-day nationwide hootenanny that seems to have lost much of its original purpose.”
Memorial Day Sales and Travel
The evolution of Memorial Day included leisure activities post-ceremonies, such as picnics and races. The holiday developed alongside baseball, automobiles, a five-day workweek, and summer vacations. Some businesses began opening during the holiday in the mid-20th century, defying traditional closures.
As Memorial Day shifted to Monday, barriers against commerce weakened significantly. Today, sales and travel are ingrained in America’s holiday tradition.