It’s not really the first day of summer, but for many it IS.
Memorial Day is the last Monday of May every year and the green light for so many to light up the barbecue or get on the road for their first trip of the season.
But another time-honored tradition (and the main reason for the holiday) is to visit the grave of a fallen soldier. After all it’s a federal holiday in the U.S. where we reflect on the lives of those who gave theirs, for us.
The holiday used to be called Decoration Day to honor Civil War soldiers, then after World War I, it was expanded to honor all veterans who died in any American war.
The 3 day long weekend became a thing after President Lyndon B. Johnson said it would help families living far from each other spend more time together.
New York became the first state to make Memorial Day an official holiday.
A side note: it’s generally thought that saying “Happy Memorial Day” does not really allow reflection of what the true meaning of the holiday is, honoring troops who sacrificed their lives in the military.
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