The origins of Memorial Day go back to the American Civil War, when more lives were lost than in any other war in U.S. history. The first celebration of Memorial Day — which was originally called Decoration Day — was held in Waterloo, New York, in 1866. Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30 for almost a century; the date was chosen because no Civil War battle had been fought on this day. Decoration Day observances originally honored Civil War soldiers, but now all military personnel who have died in different wars are honored. The date for Memorial Day was changed to the last Monday in May in 1968, and the day became a federal holiday in 1971. The observance of Memorial Day hasn’t changed much in the last 150 years; on the first Decoration Day, soldiers’ graves were decorated and speeches were given. An additional observance on Memorial Day is the moment of remembrance: a minute of silence at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.
