Memorial Day Marks More Than Unofficial First Day of Summer

American flags dot the West View Cemetery in Easley.

The flags were placed at the graves of veterans Friday morning for Memorial Day by members of American Legion Post 52.

While many mark Memorial Day as the official first day of summer activities, the holiday, or Decoration Day as it was first called, honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

According to History.com, the holiday originated shortly after the Civil War and was celebrated on May 30. The tradition continued until 1968 when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May and created a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change took effect in 1971.

The roots of Memorial Day

After the Civil War, so many soldiers had been killed during the fighting that it was necessary to establish national cemeteries. In the 1860s, towns where the cemeteries were located began establishing spring ceremonies and decorated the graves of fallen servicemen.

Waterloo, N.Y., is said to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. According to History.com, the town began celebrating on May 5, 1866. The town would close down businesses and would decorate the graves of the war dead. It was an annual event recognized community-wide.

The date, which originally recognized those killed in the Civil War, was then expanded to include all military personnel that had been killed in any war.

Salute to veterans

Patch salutes the many men and women who have supported our country during both war time and during peace time. Each individual has made our nation stronger.

Each Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m.

Please take a moment during that time to say thank you for our veterans, for their dedicated service to our country and for the families whose lives have been changed by the loss of a loved one who was protecting the very freedoms we enjoy each day.