May 26, 2024, 12:00 PM

Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May. It honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day and began in the years following the Civil War. The Civil War claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries. By the late 1860s, Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers. It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. But during World War I the U.S. found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars. For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date selected for the first Decoration Day. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May, beginning in 1971, and declared it a federal holiday. Cities and towns across the U.S. host Memorial Day parades, often incorporating military personnel and members of veterans’ organizations. Many also observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials. Did you ever notice that every Mass is a memorial day? After the Consecration, listen to the words of the Memorial Acclamation. There are three different ones that can be used. Quite often it is, “When we eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.” We remember what Jesus did for all of us. Now you know!