Date/Time
Date(s) - 05/28/2018
All Day
Location
National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
23029 Cave Creek Road
Phoenix, AZ 85024
Categories
13 Facts About Memorial Day You Might Not Know
With much of the focus being on trips to the Arizona high country or waterways, cookouts, and even fireworks, there are plenty of things you might not know about Memorial Day.
(1) Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day.
(2) Decoration Day was officially started three years after the end of the Civil War.
(3) On May 5, 1868, the nation was asked to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers.
(4) May 30 became the official Decoration Day holiday because it was believed flowers would be in bloom across the country on that day.
(5) The first large observance was held at Arlington National Cemetery.
(6) The amount of people at the first observance and the amount of people who attend now are about the same number: 5,000 people.
(7) Several places claim to be the birthplace of Decoration Day: Columbus, MS; Macon and Columbus, GA; Richmond, VA; Boalsburg, PA; Carbondale, IL; and Waterloo, NY.
(8) In 1966, Waterloo was declared the “official” birthplace of what was known at that point as Memorial Day.
(9) Memorial Day wasn’t expanded to include deceased soldiers of all American wars until after World War I.
(10) In 1971, Memorial Day became an official national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday in May.
(11) December 2000 – the National Moment of Remembrance Act was passed and signed into law.
(12) All Americans are encouraged to observe a moment of silence at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day to remember and honor those who’ve died in service to the nation.
(13) This year, Memorial Day is Monday, May 28, 2018.
Plan to have a great time where ever you go or invite your friends and family over for a barbecue this Memorial Day. But don’t forget to remember the reason for the holiday and take a moment to remember those who gave everything for our country.
2018 Memorial Day Ceremonies
The National Cemetery Administration will host Memorial Day ceremonies at VA national cemeteries across the country with the help of local communities. Each cemetery and community will add their own special touch of patriotism and “thanks” during the events. National Cemeteries in Arizona include:
National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
23029 North Cave Creek Road
Phoenix, AZ 85024
(480) 513-3600
Ceremony: May 28 at 8:00 a.m.
Prescott National Cemetery
500 Highway 89 North
Prescott, AZ 86313
For information please contact: National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona (480) 513-3600
Ceremony: May 28 at 11:00 a.m.
