Changes

The Civil War so dominated the day that after [[World War I]], the new veterans pushed for their own "Armistice Day", now "Veterans Day" in November.

The Civil War so dominated the day that after [[World War I]], the new veterans pushed for their own "Armistice Day", now "Veterans Day" in November.

The preferred name gradually changed to "Memorial Day"; in 1971 the date was moved by Congress to the last Monday in May in order to ensure a three-day weekend.   

The preferred name gradually changed to "Memorial Day"; in 1971 the date was moved by Congress to the last Monday in May in order to ensure a three-day weekend.  It marks the start of summer, just as Labor Day marks the end.

The large cities paid much less attention; their populations did not much remember the Civil War since they grew primarily from European immigration after 1865.  Memorial Day was a observed primarily by the the towns and small cities of the North as a sacred day when the war dead are mourned, the spirit of redemptive sacrifice is extolled and pledges to American ideals are renewed.

The large cities paid much less attention; their populations did not much remember the Civil War since they grew primarily from European immigration after 1865.  Memorial Day was a observed primarily by the the towns and small cities of the North as a sacred day when the war dead are mourned, the spirit of redemptive sacrifice is extolled and pledges to American ideals are renewed.