In Remembrance of Those Who Gave Their Life For Our Country Memorial Day In Remembrance of Those Who Gave Their Life For Our Country Mr. Heath Blue Creek Elementary School

Decoration Day Originally called Decoration Day May have started when women’s groups in the South began decorating the graves of fallen soldiers during the Civil War.

First Official Observation May 30, 1868 Flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, DC.

“In Flanders Fields” Poem Written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae in 1915, the day after he performed the burial service for his friend who was killed in battle in Flanders, Belgium during World War I John McCrae was a doctor in the Canadian Army Became associated with Memorial Day

Poppies The poem “In Flanders Fields” inspired the wearing of poppies on Memorial Day to honor all of those who died serving the nation during war.

Arlington National Cemetery Each Memorial Day, 1,200 members of the 3rd Infantry Division place flags on the more than 260,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery.

Arlington National Cemetery

National Holiday Congress made “Memorial Day” a national holiday in 1968 We began observing it on the last Monday in May in 1971.

American War Deaths Over 1,300,000 Americans

Memorial Day Flag Etiquette Flag flown at half-mast from sunrise until noon. Full staff from noon until sunset.

Moment of Remembrance 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day Everyone urged to stop what they are doing and observe a moment of silence.