• Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and was a desire to honor those who lost their lives in the conflict. Today, it is a day of remembrance for all those who have died in service of the United States of America.
• Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. Memorial Day was first used around 1882, but did not become commonly used until after World War II. Memorial Day was declared the official name by Federal Law in 1967.
• On Memorial Day, the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon, their memory is raised by the living who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

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Source: usmemorialday.org