Memorial Day 2022: Find Out What's Open, Closed In Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA — Memorial Day is a federal holiday, which means that many businesses as well as government agencies and services will likely be closed for the day. The holiday remembers all Americans who have lost their lives while serving their country.

The weekend prior and the holiday itself are also unofficially considered the kickoff to summer. We rounded up what will be open and what will be closed, so you can make your plans in advance. The mayor's office and most city agencies will be closed on Monday in Atlanta.

What's open, closed in Atlanta on Memorial Day

• Trash, recycling and compost collection - will not be collected Monday. Collection will be delayed one day.
• Parking meters - parking meters are free on Sundays and on certain national holidays, including Memorial Day.
• ATL311 Non-Emergency City Services - will still be functioning. The app will also be working normally. Sign up here.
• Atlanta recreation centers - all will be closed Monday, but the outdoor pools will be open.
• City parks - open as usual.
• City-owned golf facilities - all will be open on Monday.

Businesses

• Costco: Warehouses are closed on Memorial Day.
• CVS: All stores will be open regular hours (some stores are open 24 hours). Check local store hours.
• Kroger: All stores will be open regular hours. The pharmacies have shortened hours, depending upon location. Check local store hours.
• Target: Most stores will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Memorial Day weekend. Check local store hours.
• Trader Joe's: Stores will be open regular hours on Memorial Day. Check local store hours.
• Walgreens: Most stores will be open regular hours, but most pharmacies will be closed. Hours vary by location. Check local store hours.
• Walmart: Stores will be open regular hours. Check local store hours.
• Whole Foods: Stores will be open regular hours for the holiday. Check local store hours.

Remembering veterans who died while in military service in late May dates back to 1868, when Gen. John A. Logan called for a day of remembrance to honor the Northern lives lost amid battle during the Civil War that had ended just a few years earlier. Logan called it "Decoration Day," which it was known as for several years. As time passed, more and more people called it Memorial Day, and it became a federal holiday in 1971.

Until World War I, Memorial Day, or Decoration Day, was only meant to honor those who died while fighting for the union in the Civil War, as Southern states honored their war dead on a separate day. After the 116,000-plus American deaths in World War I, the holiday took on a new role to remember all who have died while serving in the military.
Every year, a national moment of remembrance is held at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. The midday time was chosen "because it is the time when many Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday," according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

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