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[[File:MemorialDay.jpg|right|300px]]

[[File:MemorialDay.jpg|right|300px]]

'''Memorial Day''', previously called ''Decoration Day'', is a day of remembrance for those who have died while serving in the military of the [[United States]]. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of [[Congress]] and the date to observe the holiday was set as the last Monday in May.<ref>http://www1.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp#hist</ref><br />

'''Memorial Day''', previously called ''Decoration Day'', is a day of remembrance for those who have died while serving in the military of the [[United States]]. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of [[Congress]] and the date to observe the holiday was set as the last Monday in May.<ref>http://www1.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp#hist</ref><br />

'''{{before on after|2020|05|25|Memorial Day will be next observed on May 25, 2020.|Memorial Day is observed today, May 25, 2020.|{{before on after|2021|05|31|Memorial Day will be next observed on May 31, 2021.|Memorial Day is observed today, May 31, 2021.|{{before on after|2022|05|30|Memorial Day will be next observed on May 30, 2022.|Memorial Day is observed today, May 31, 2022.|{{before on after|2023|05|29|Memorial Day will be next observed on May 29, 2023.|Memorial Day is observed today, May 29, 2023.| }}}}}}}}'''

'''{{before on after|2024|05|27|Memorial Day will next be observed on Monday, May 27, 2024.|Memorial Day is being observed today, May 27, 2024.|{{before on after|2025|05|26|Memorial Day will be next observed on Monday, May 26, 2025.|Memorial Day is observed today, May 26, 2025.|{{before on after|2026|05|25|Memorial Day will be next observed on Monday, May 25, 2026.|Memorial Day is observed today, May 25, 2026.|{{before on after|2027|05|31|Memorial Day will be next observed on Monday, May 31, 2027.|Memorial Day is observed today, May 31, 2027.| }}}}}}}}'''

{{cquote|'''Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It's a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It's a day to be with the family and remember.''' <small>-- Ronald Reagan</small>}}

{{cquote|Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It's a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It's a day to be with the family and remember. <small>-- Ronald Reagan</small>}}

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{{cquote|'''Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends'''. {{bibleref|John|15|13}}}}

{{cquote|Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. {{bibleref|John|15|13}}}}

==Origins and practice==

==Origins and practice==

By 1865 the practice of decorating soldiers' graves had become widespread in the North. General [[John Logan]], National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic—the society of Union Army veterans—called for all GAR posts to celebrate a "Decoration Day" on May 30, 1868. There were events in 183 cemeteries in 27 states in 1868, and 336 in 1869. The northern states quickly adopted the holiday; Michigan made "Decoration Day" an official state holiday in 1871 and by 1890 every northern state followed suit. The ceremonies were sponsored by the Women's Relief Corps, with 100,000 members.

By 1865 the practice of decorating soldiers' graves had become widespread in the North. General [[John Logan]], National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic—the society of Union Army veterans—called for all GAR posts to celebrate a "Decoration Day" on May 30, 1868. There were events in 183 cemeteries in 27 states in 1868, and 336 in 1869. The northern states quickly adopted the holiday; Michigan made "Decoration Day" an official state holiday in 1871 and by 1890 every northern state followed suit. The ceremonies were sponsored by the Women's Relief Corps, with 100,000 members.