The meaning behind the Memorial Day federal holiday
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Memorial Day is about more than cookouts, travel, sales, and the unofficial kickoff to summer.
Why it matters: The federal holiday honors military personnel who lost their lives defending the country.
- Despite the holiday's intent, Memorial Day weekend travel is projected to beat a 20-year-old record, AAA data shows.
When is Memorial Day 2025?
Memorial Day is observed each year on the last Monday of May, which is May 26 this year.
- The holiday used to be held on May 30 annually until 1971.
Memorial Day and Veterans Day: Key differences
Zoom in: Veterans Day honors all who have served in the U.S. military and is considered a celebration of all veterans, living and dead.
- Memorial Day is to recognize fallen military who died in service.
Memorial Day's history
Flashback: Memorial Day was originally called "Decoration Day" and was recognized as early as the 1860s after the Civil War.
- The history of Memorial Day is the subject of a longstanding academic debate, with dozens of cities and towns claiming to be the holiday's birthplace.
- After World War I, the focus of the holiday shifted to honor American soldiers who died in any war, not only the Civil War.
Why you shouldn't say "Happy Memorial Day"
Reality check: Since Memorial Day is a solemn day to remember the fallen, the Wounded Warrior Project advises people to say: "Have a meaningful Memorial Day," not "Happy Memorial Day."
- The group said it's "not appropriate to thank a service member for their service on this day, as it is a day for remembering and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice."
Go deeper: Memorial Day travel forecast to break 20-year-old record despite economic gloom
