The History of Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day. Please take some time today and remember the men and women who died fighting for our country.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. There are a lot of different stories about how it started but there is evidence that women in the South started decorating graves of the fallen Confederate soldiers before the end of the Civil War.

It wasn't until after World War I, that Memorial Day included honoring not just those that died during the Civil War but also those that died during any war.

Congress didn't even make it an official holiday until 1971.

You can find out more about the origins of Memorial Day at History of Memorial Day

There will be a national moment of silence at 3 P.M. today.

Here are ways to observe Memorial Day.