The Origins and Observance of Memorial Day: Honoring Fallen Heroes in the US

The Memorial Day, also known as the Day of the Fallen, commemorates Americans who died while serving their country in wars. It is observed annually on the last Monday of May.

Various cities lay claim to having established Memorial Day, but in 1966, Congress declared Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of the holiday. Memorial Day initially honored military personnel who died in the Civil War (1861-1865).

Today, it pays tribute to all those who have died in war while in service to the United States. It was also known as Decoration Day.

May 5, 1866 – Residents of Waterloo, New York, mark a Memorial Day honoring all who died during the Civil War. Businesses closed, and soldiers’ graves were decorated.

1868 – General John Alexander Logan officially proclaims May 30, 1868, as a Day of Commemoration in honor of Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. Until after World War I, Southern states observed a separate Memorial Day in honor of Confederate dead.

1971 – Congress declares Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday of May.

December 28, 2000: President Bill Clinton signs the «National Moment of Remembrance Act,» designating 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day each year as the National Moment of Remembrance.

This 2024, Memorial Day is commemorated on May 27.

Approximately 620,000 Americans died in the Civil War, with the Union losing nearly 365,000 troops and the Confederacy around 260,000. More than half of these deaths were due to diseases.

116,516 Americans died in World War I, with more than half succumbing to disease.

405,399 Americans died in World War II.

36,574 Americans died in the Korean War.

58,220 Americans died in the Vietnam War.

383 service members died in the Gulf War.

4,410 service members died in the Iraq War.

73 service members died in the Afghanistan War.

2,347 service members have died as of May 2019.

76 service members have died as of May 2019.