what is memorial day?
355880
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that takes place on May 30 and is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formerly known as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who died in military service for their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it expanded to include those who died in any war or military action. Today, some Americans apparently use Memorial Day weekend to also honor family members who have died. Church services on the Sunday prior to Memorial Day may include a reading of the names of members who have died during the previous 12 months.
779607
At first I want to say that November 11th is the end of the first World War (1914-1918). As someone has already said, we do not celebrate this day like a national holiday. It is a day on which we silently remember the war, our responsibilty for this war and WWII and, which is the most important, we remember the cruelty and and insanity of wars and what can be done in order to prevent anything like WWI and WWII.
589272
May Day used to be a religous Holiday in most European countries. It was taken over by the lefties of the world.
688574
http://memorialdayorigin.info/  <<that site will explain Memorial day for ya
367147
Yes, I celebrate it. While it's not an officially recognized holiday in the US, it is celebrated by pagans here. We refer to it as Beltane more often than May Day.
443891
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day\n\nThis is a link to Wikipedia, it has all the info about May Day, or May 1st that you could ask for.
522906
La Dia de Los Muertos. It starts on Halloween and runs for three days. Kind of like Memorial day for us.
968154
yes, Veterans' Day (a day for all - i.e. more than one - veteran)
751357
Veterans Day, this year and every year, is November 11.  It commemorates the signing of the peace treaty in World War One, which was signed at 11:00 on November 11, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.\n\nHowever, the *celebration* of the holiday will be on Friday, November 10, in order to give people a three-day weekend.\n\nGood luck!!
524963
It is actually the custom to REMEMBER the dead on Memorial Day.  For some, the deaths may still be recent enough that they are still in mourning.  It is a more somber occasion for them.\n\nFor others, the mourning has passed, and we prefer to "celebrate" the life that has passed on.  Memorial Day  weekend has long been seen as the unofficial start of the summer, due to the fact that the pools open, kids get out of school within these two weeks for summer vacation, etc.  It is quite natural to celebrate those lives then, by having barbeque's etc.
3186
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is the annual holiday celebrated on June 19 in the United States to commemorate the end of slavery. Juneteenth has its origins in Texas, where it was primarily celebrated for more than a century. More recently, however, its observance has spread across the nation.
648720
Memorial Day is set aside to honor those who died in the service of their country. However, this extends to fire fighters and police officers as well. Soldiers killed in battle in all of our wars and conflicts are primarily honored. It is also a time when families of these persons, clean up grave sites, plant small shrubs, or trees in honor of the dead, and plant flowers at the grave sites, etc.
567471
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.
786535
probably a poppy? it's because of remembrance day... it's a canadian holiday for the remembrance of soldiers that have served for canada in past wars.
994607
You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.
790786
It started after the Civil War in many communities across the United States - for more information on Memorial Day check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_day#History\n\nGood Luck!!! :-)
579929
The holiday of Cinco De Mayo, The 5th Of May, commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, with some recognition in other parts of the Mexico, and especially in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think, Mexico's Independence Day, which is actually September 16.