This Monday, May 27, is Memorial Day. The national holiday, formerly known as Decoration Day, is observed on the last Monday of May every year and commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. The day of remembrance was first enacted to honor Union and Confederate soldiers following the American Civil War, but after World War I it was extended to include those Americans who have died in all wars.
Originally started as a ritual of remembrance and reconciliation after the civil war, Memorial Day has become an occasion for more general expressions of honored recognition. Families now use the day to visit the graves of deceased relatives whether they served in the military or not. It has also become a long weekend increasingly devoted to shopping, family get-togethers, fireworks, trips to the beach, and national media events such as the Indianapolis 500 auto race.
In past years, the theme of the holiday has transformed into American exceptionalism and our duty as a nation to uphold freedom in the world.
A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time. Another tradition is to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. The National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the west lawn of the United States Capitol with a broadcast on PBS and NPR. Music is performed, and respect is paid to the men and women who died in war.
Sociologists often make the argument that America has a secular "civil religion" – one with no association with any religious denomination or viewpoint – that has incorporated Memorial Day as a sacred event. Our American tradition includes an obligation to honor the sacrifices made by our nation to earn our freedom.
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