It’s simple to neglect the denotation of Memorial Day—but this day signifies a considerably more than just a three-day weekend. Memorial Day, or formerly Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for all Americans who scarified their lives in service to our nation.
Born from the Civil War and a yearning to honor our fallen. A myriad of places claim to be the origin of this holiday however, Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966.
30th of May, 1868, is selected for the purpose of scattering of flowers, or otherwise trimming the graves of comrades who died in defense of our republic during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, town and churchyard across the countryside.
The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South rejected to acknowledge the day, reverence their dead on dispersed days until the close of the western front in WW1. - After the holiday transformed from honoring solely those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.
Consequent years after the Civil War, Memorial Day celebrations were dispersed and predictably, took different directions in the North and South. Following World War II the holiday obtained national identity and public national pride.
The ultimate occurrence that cemented the contemporary meaning of Memorial Day in America was in 1968 when Congress passed the Uniform Holiday Act, designating Memorial Day as the last Monday in May rather than May 30, as it had previously been observed.
Thus, solidifying a three-day weekend and spawned its present status as the informal commencement of summer, mingling serious reflection with more blithe fun.
Below are the number of casualties in each U.S. war:
Civil War: Approximately 620,000 Americans died. The Union lost almost 365,000 troops and the Confederacy about 260,000. More than half of these deaths were caused by disease.
World War I: 116,516 Americans died, more than half from disease.
World War II: 405,399 Americans died.
Korean War: 36,574 Americans died.
Vietnam Conflict: 58,220 Americans died. More than 47,000 Americans were killed in action and nearly 11,000 died of other causes.
Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm: 383 U.S. service members died.
Operation Iraqi Freedom: 4,424 U.S. service members died.
Operation New Dawn: 73 U.S. service members died.
Operation Enduring Freedom: 2,349 U.S. service members died.
Freedom's Sentinel Casualties: 22 U.S. service members died as of May 2016.
Inherent Resolve Totals: 20 U.S. service members died as of May 2016.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE & YOUR SACRIFICE!
Born from the Civil War and a yearning to honor our fallen. A myriad of places claim to be the origin of this holiday however, Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966.
30th of May, 1868, is selected for the purpose of scattering of flowers, or otherwise trimming the graves of comrades who died in defense of our republic during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, town and churchyard across the countryside.
The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South rejected to acknowledge the day, reverence their dead on dispersed days until the close of the western front in WW1. - After the holiday transformed from honoring solely those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.
Consequent years after the Civil War, Memorial Day celebrations were dispersed and predictably, took different directions in the North and South. Following World War II the holiday obtained national identity and public national pride.
The ultimate occurrence that cemented the contemporary meaning of Memorial Day in America was in 1968 when Congress passed the Uniform Holiday Act, designating Memorial Day as the last Monday in May rather than May 30, as it had previously been observed.
Thus, solidifying a three-day weekend and spawned its present status as the informal commencement of summer, mingling serious reflection with more blithe fun.
Below are the number of casualties in each U.S. war:
Civil War: Approximately 620,000 Americans died. The Union lost almost 365,000 troops and the Confederacy about 260,000. More than half of these deaths were caused by disease.
World War I: 116,516 Americans died, more than half from disease.
World War II: 405,399 Americans died.
Korean War: 36,574 Americans died.
Vietnam Conflict: 58,220 Americans died. More than 47,000 Americans were killed in action and nearly 11,000 died of other causes.
Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm: 383 U.S. service members died.
Operation Iraqi Freedom: 4,424 U.S. service members died.
Operation New Dawn: 73 U.S. service members died.
Operation Enduring Freedom: 2,349 U.S. service members died.
Freedom's Sentinel Casualties: 22 U.S. service members died as of May 2016.
Inherent Resolve Totals: 20 U.S. service members died as of May 2016.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE & YOUR SACRIFICE!