It is unique as far as American flag etiquette is concerned, and is unofficially often regarded as the start of summer. Yet Memorial Day has a greater significance for the nation and those who have served in the U.S. Military.
This is the only day on the calendar that the flag is raised for only half the day.
At sunrise on Monday, Memorial Day, the flag should be raised to full staff, then lowered slowly to half staff until noon. At noon, the flag should once again be raised to full staff then remain at full staff throughout the rest of the day. At all times, the flag should be lowered at sundown, unless kept illuminated throughout the night.
Memorial Day as a day of observance dates back to the Civil War. Three years after the end of the war, Union General John A. Logan called or a national day of Remembrance for all those who fought in the Civil War. Southern widows and daughters chose the day to lay flowers on the graves of loved ones in time for the summer growing season.
The day was originally known as Decoration Day because of all the flowers, wreaths and flags that were placed on soldiers’ and sailors’ graves. But it did not become an official federal holiday until 1971.
For the first 50 years, Decoration Day only commemorated those killed in the civil war. However, after World War I, it was expanded to honor fallen military in all wars.
The federal government has recognized Waterloo, New York as the designated Birthplace of Memorial Day based on Governor Normal Rockefeller citing it in 1966, and reinforced by President Lyndon Johnson signing legislation to that effect later in the same year. Legislation was based on the belief the city had celebrated the holiday in 1866 when businesses were closed and residents marched to cemeteries to decorate military graves.
Today, residents are urged to observe a moment of silence at 3 p.m..in order to have a National Moment of Remembrance for all fallen military of all wars.
Ceremonies, in addition to being held at numerous cemeteries across the nation, are conducted at Arlington National Cemetery where new flags are placed on every grave and a wreath is placed on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Residents can also hang a black mourning ribbon from the flag on Memorial Day as a public sign of mourning all fallen military.
