Memorial Day – a time for family, lakes and grilled hot dogs. It’s associated with the outdoors and days off of work, but what is it really about?
It’s a common misconception that Memorial Day and Labor Day honor the same thing. Memorial Day is a day where Americans honor those who have given their lives in service to our country. Labor Day honors all soldiers. Several members of On Time Logistics family are veterans, so any holiday honoring military service is of special interest to us.
Here are a few facts about Memorial Day:
- While Memorial Day wasn’t officially deemed an official holiday until 1967, events honoring fallen soldiers date back to the Romans and Greeks.
- Originally, Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day, where Americans would decorate graves with flowers to honor the Union and Confederate soldiers who died while serving in the Civil War.
- By the 1960s, it became a holiday that served all Americans who died serving our country.
- Congress passed a law in 2000 that requires all Americans to stop what they are doing at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day to honor and remember those who gave their life for our country.
- The American Flag should be flown at half-staff until noon, and then raised to full staff until the sun sets.
AAA expects 39.3 million Americans to travel 50 or more miles away from home, which is one million more travelers than last year. So, whatever your plans are this Memorial Day, be safe and remember to honor those who protected this great country.