Sharing is Caring: Random facts about Memorial Day

Why? Because if you're going to celebrate it with parades, beaches, a 3-day weekend & a bbq you might as well know more about it.

Image source: http://networkyourlife.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/memorial-montage2.jpg
The first holiday:
Originally, the holiday was known as "Decoration Day." It was started by a Civil War general named Gen. John Logan, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. General Logan sought a way to help the country come back together after the horrors and divide of the Civil War. The holiday was first observed on May 30, 1868.

The date:
Gen. Logan chose May 30 for two very important reasons:
1. The day did not mark the anniversary of a Civil War battle, and
2. Flowers would likely be in bloom all over the United States.

Its official!
Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971, when Congress passed the National Holiday Act. This created a three-day weekend at the end of May. Prior to this, different states observed the holiday on different days.


Bonus: The "national moment of remembrance" takes place at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day and lasts one minute. It is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died for our freedom.

Source: buzz.yahoo.com