Memorial Day is a time to honor all those who gave their lives for our country. It is also a time to celebrate our freedom and give thanks for the blessings that we all enjoy, never forgetting the men and women who laid down their lives so we could live ours.
So while you're enjoying all the festivities and parades, and time with your friends and family this weekend, here are some Memorial Day facts that will make you the smartest person at the barbeque.
- In December 2000, Congress passed a law requiring Americans to pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day to remember and honor the fallen. But this doesn’t appear to be common knowledge. Who knew?
- Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. To honor the deceased, soldiers would decorate graves of their fallen comrades with flowers, flags and wreaths. Although Memorial Day became its official title in the 1880s, the holiday wouldn’t legally become Memorial Day until 1967.
- Arlington National Cemetery is one of the places where major Memorial Day ceremonies take place. One of the largest cemeteries in the world, it is home to 400,000 graves.
- On Memorial Day, bikers hold an event known as the Rolling Thunder Run. Held in Washington DC, the rally started out with some 2,500 participants in 1988. These days, it is a major event with almost a million bikers and spectators.
- On Memorial Day, the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. Then, it is raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.
Enjoy the holiday weekend! Have fun and be safe!