1. Memorial Day Researched via: http://wikipedia.org http://wikipedia.org Student Name: Shekerra Kelly Date: 5/27/11

2. History Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that honors American servicemembers and is observed on the last Monday of May (May 30 in 2011). United States federal holiday It commemorates U.S. citizens who died while on military service.military service

3. Flags at half-staff until noon On Memorial Day the flag is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half- staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. [8] [8] The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

4. Name and date The name for the holiday gradually changed from "Decoration Day" to "Memorial Day", which was first used in 1882. It did not become more common until after World War II and was not declared the official name by Federal law until 1967. The change moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May.

5. Traditional observance Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time. Another tradition is to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. [10] One of the longest-standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, an auto race which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911. It runs on the Sunday preceding the Memorial Day holiday. The Coca- Cola 600 stock car race has been held later the same day since 1961. flag of the United Stateshalf-staff [10]Indianapolis 500Coca- Cola 600 Also, many Americans hold barbeques at parks or at their homes.

6. Interpretations Our American tradition includes an obligation to honor the sacrifices made by our nation to earn our freedom. With the Civil War, a new theme of death, sacrifice and rebirth enters the civil religion. Memorial Day gave ritual expression to these themes, integrating the local community into a sense of nationalism.

7. In literature and music Charles Ives's symphonic poem Decoration Day depicted the holiday as he experienced it in his childhood, with his father's band leading the way to the town cemetery, the playing of "Taps" on a trumpet, and a livelier march tune on the way back to the town.Charles IvesTaps