Memorial Day 2025: What’s Open and Closed This Holiday

NEW YORK, NY — Memorial Day is on Monday, May 26, 2025, marking the unofficial start of summer for many Americans. Schools will be closed, and many businesses will take the day off in observance of the federal holiday.

According to the U.S. government, Memorial Day is recognized as the nation’s principal day to honor deceased service members. Originally named ‘Decoration Day,’ this holiday traces back to the 1860s, commemorating those who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military. The first celebration occurred in the town of Waterloo, Seneca County.

This year, Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May, in line with its historical scheduling. Established as a day of remembrance, it began when General John Logan declared it in 1868 following the Civil War, with 20,000 graves decorated at Arlington National Cemetery. President James Garfield delivered a speech during the inaugural Decoration Day.

New York was the first state to officially recognize Decoration Day, and by the end of the 1800s, all Northern states had participated. Southern states designated separate days for their remembrances until after World War I, when the focus broadened to honor those who died in all American wars.

On Memorial Day, services across various sectors will be impacted. The United States Postal Service will observe the holiday, meaning that no mail will be delivered and post offices will not operate. However, Priority Mail Express will still be available year-round.

Major banks such as Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, CitiBank, and Wells Fargo will be closed on Memorial Day, as will local banks like Five Star Bank and ESL Federal Credit Union.

Delivery services will also be affected. UPS will not provide pickup or delivery services, and its store locations may be closed. FedEx‘s regular pickup and delivery services will not operate, though FedEx Custom Critical services will remain active.

While many schools and businesses observe the holiday by closing their doors, most major retailers will be open, except for club stores that remain closed on Memorial Day as with other federal holidays.

For any specific inquiries, individuals are encouraged to contact local service providers for their hours of operation during this observance.