The last Monday in May.
1866, the United States is slowly recovering from a long and bloody civil war. The surviving soldiers returned to their hometown with their disabled bodies and stories. Henry Welles, the owner of the pharmacy in Waterloo, new york, heard the story of the soldier and had an idea. He suggested that all the shops in the city should be closed for one day to mourn the soldiers buried in Waterloo. On the morning of May 5, the citizens placed bouquets, wreaths and crosses in front of the tombstones of the northern soldiers in the cemetery. Almost at the same time, General Jonathan Logan is preparing another memorial ceremony for the soldiers who survived the war. He led the veterans through the town to the cemetery and decorated the graves of the soldiers who had fought with flags. This is not a happy celebration, but a commemoration. People call it decoration day.
When General Jonathan Logan announced the anniversary, he said, "1On May 30th, 868, we will sprinkle flowers on the graves of soldiers or decorate their graves in other ways. They died defending their country and the recent revolution, and their bodies are buried in almost every city, village and small village in this land. There is no established ceremony for mourning, but local branches and partners of the Veterans Association can arrange appropriate activities and worship ceremonies in their own way. "
The two ceremonies were merged in 1868, and the northern states held this ceremony on May 30th. The children recited poems and sang civil war songs. Veterans wearing uniforms and medals came to school to tell children stories about the Civil War. Then the veterans followed the citizens to the cemetery. They decorated soldiers' graves and took pictures of soldiers standing beside the national flag. Fire a gun into the air and pay tribute to the northern soldiers who gave their lives to safeguard the integrity and unity of the United States.
1882, this festival was renamed Memorial Day, also to mourn the soldiers who died in the previous war. In the northern States of the United States, this day is designated as a legal holiday. Southern States mourn the soldiers who died in different periods. 197 1 year, President Nixon declared Memorial Day and other festivals as national holidays, and Memorial Day was scheduled for the last Monday in May.
All cities in the United States hold ceremonies on the last Monday in May to pay tribute to the men and women who died for their country.
Memorial Day is not limited to honoring American soldiers. This is also a festival of missing. Families and individuals miss their dead relatives. They go to church to pray, visit cemeteries, offer flowers and even mourn, which makes the day look solemn. This is a memorable day. But now, many Americans regard this day as the beginning of summer and spend their three-day weekend on the beach, on the mountain or at home.
In Waterloo, new york, this tradition has not been lost. In fact, its significance has even become more special. President lyndon johnson declared Waterloo the birthplace of 1966 Memorial Day, after the first ceremony began 100. On May 30th every year, citizens still walk to the cemetery to hold some commemorative ceremonies. They decorated the cemetery with flags and flowers, and then walked to the park in the city center. In the center of the park, next to a monument dedicated to soldiers, sailors and sailors, people read Gatsby's speech, followed by General Logan's order 1 1 announcing the decoration day. The country choir sings patriotic songs. Pupils will take part in the parade in the evening.
Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia is the largest national cemetery in the United States. Not only soldiers are buried here, but also astronauts, explorers and other outstanding Americans, all of whom enjoy a special position here. President Kennedy was buried overlooking Washington.
On the Friday before Memorial Day, early in the morning, soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the United States walked past rows of tombstones here. The soldiers stopped at each tombstone, took a piece from a bundle of flags they were carrying and put it on the cemetery. These soldiers belong to a special legion-"Old Guards". Most soldiers think that it is a special treatment to plant flags on the graves of more than 200 thousand soldiers who fought bloody battles or died in battle. "They did their duty," said a soldier. "Now it's my turn."
It is also an honor to guard these tombs of unknown martyrs all the year round. In fact, there are four soldiers buried in this place: the unknown soldiers in the two world wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Every soldier represents all the soldiers who gave their lives in modern wars. Soldiers of the Third Infantry Regiment guarded the cemetery 24 hours a day. The wreath-laying ceremony is held all year round, and people from all over the world come to watch the soldiers change their posts. On another hill in Arlington Cemetery, there is a cemetery for unidentified soldiers killed in the Civil War.
On the anniversary, the president or vice president will make a speech and place a wreath on the grave. The army fired a gun into the air. Veterans and their families will come to lay wreaths and pray. The soldiers who may be buried here are fathers, sons, brothers or friends.