MEMORIAL DAY 2024: A TIME TO REMEMBER OUR HEROES
Some people may consider Memorial Day 2024 to be the unofficial start of summer, and it is the perfect time for backyard barbecues, poolside parties, and beach adventures. But there are more profound meanings for this federal holiday. Originally called "Decoration Day," it usually commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of those who died while serving the U.S. military. Observed on the last Monday of May, it is a solemn celebration. This particular day initially honors those who died during the Civil War, but service members who died while in service to the country during peace and war are included to be celebrated. It also includes the 12 major wars that the U.S. has battled and other conflicts.
Good to Know 2024 Memorial Day Facts and History
Honoring ancestors with an act of service by decorating graves and cleaning cemeteries is an old tradition worldwide. It is usually performed during summer in early rural America and is also a time for family picnics and reunions. Visiting memorials and family graves was never a dreadful tradition. Instead, it became an act of remembrance. The tradition of honoring the dead was believed to have been boosted by the way southern states adorned the graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers with flags, flowers, and wreaths. Several cities and towns nationwide have claimed to be the first to observe Memorial Day. In Waterloo, New York, May 5, 1866, marks the city's hosting of Decoration Day. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared the town the yearly event's birthplace. Further, on May 5, 1868, Gen. John A. Logan was inspired by the suggestion of Veteran Maj. Thus, the 30th of May is declared the annual event via General Order No. 11. During the Civil War, there was a need to honor those who had sacrificed their lives. After World War I, fallen soldiers were included in the commemoration; thus, the term "Memorial Day" started to be used. By World War II, the new term had adopted resolutions, making it an official holiday across various states. By 1971, Memorial Day was a national holiday by an act of Congress, and it is still being celebrated on Memorial Day in 2024.
Memorial Day 2024 Traditions You Should Look Out For
It is a yearly event at Arlington National Cemetery, where the president speaks. Government organizations and the military also conduct their services. In Washington, D.C., watch out for the parade this Memorial Day in 2024. The American Veterans Center will host it, which will proceed down Constitution Avenue usually on Monday afternoon and be broadcast live to all major TV networks. Some municipal buildings fly flags at half-staff, and garlands and bouquets are often seen at private residences.
The Symbolism of a Poppy in 2024 Memorial Day
The red-field poppy was the first to appear in Europe's war-torn battlefields. The wind scatters its seeds, and they will only germinate when the ground is disturbed, just like the brutal fighting of World War I. The Canadian Soldier and physician John McCrae had firsthand experience of the war. Thus, he was inspired to write a poem, "In Flanders Fields," in 1915. He saw poppies spread all over the battlefield, covering his artillery position in Belgium.In the United States, the poppy is traditionally worn on Memorial Day. Some still do it, even on Memorial Day 2024. However, its symbolism evolved, encompassing all Veterans, deceased and living, making it to be worn on Veterans Day as well. Not long after the tradition started, it was even adopted by other Allied Nations, namely New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, which is still prevalent. The flowering plant is worn on Remembrance Day in these countries. On Modern Memorial Day in 2024, poppies are not just a symbol. They represent the loss of life and the recovery of a new one, especially in support of those service members who survived the war but had suffered from psychological and physical wounds. In remembering the fallen this Memorial Day 2024, we also honor their loved ones: fathers, spouses, mothers, sons, sisters, daughters, brothers, and friends. There aren’t fitting words, but we live in daily gratitude for the precious gift they gave us.Related reads: