On May 5, 1868, an organization of Union army veterans—the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)—established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Today, the holiday's name and dates have changed, but its purpose remains to honor all people who have died in service to the United States during peace and war.
This year, Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 29, 2023. The date is determined under the Uniform Holidays Bill of 1968, which moved the holiday to the last Monday in May.
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