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When is Memorial Day 2027?
Memorial Day 2027 falls on Monday, May 31, 2027.
About Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a US federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May each year. It honours the military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It began as Decoration Day in the years after the American Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans visit cemeteries and memorials, fly flags at half-mast until noon, and take part in commemorations. The day is also widely treated as the unofficial start of summer, since the long weekend opens the beach season and is a popular time for cookouts and travel. Memorial Day is distinct from Veterans Day in November, which honours everyone who has served, both living and dead.
The origins of Memorial Day are usually traced to the years just after the American Civil War. Major-General John A. Logan, who led the Grand Army of the Republic, called for a national Decoration Day in May 1868. He chose a late-May date because flowers would be in bloom across most of the country. By 1971 the Uniform Monday Holiday Act had moved the observance to a Monday and the federal name had become Memorial Day. Each Memorial Day, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery hosts a major wreath-laying ceremony, traditionally with an address by the president. The Indianapolis 500 motor race is run on Memorial Day weekend every year, and the National Memorial Day Concert on the West Lawn of the US Capitol is broadcast live the night before to millions of viewers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?
Memorial Day and Veterans Day are both US holidays that honour the armed forces, but they recognise different groups. Memorial Day, on the last Monday of May, remembers service members who died while serving, especially those killed in war. Veterans Day, on November 11, honours all who have served in the US military, and the living in particular. A simple way to keep them apart is that Memorial Day is for those who died in service, while Veterans Day thanks everyone who served.
Why is Memorial Day on the last Monday of May?
Memorial Day grew out of Decoration Day, first held on May 30, 1868. The late-May timing was chosen because flowers would be widely in bloom for decorating soldiers' graves. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, which took effect in 1971, moved the observance to the last Monday of May to create a dependable three-day weekend. Since then the date has floated between May 25 and May 31, rather than staying fixed on May 30 as it once did.
How is Memorial Day observed?
Memorial Day is marked by both solemn remembrance and the start of the summer season. Many Americans visit cemeteries and war memorials, lay flowers and flags on graves, and attend services or parades. The national flag is flown at half-mast until noon, then raised to the top. At three in the afternoon there is a National Moment of Remembrance. The same long weekend is also a popular time for family gatherings, barbecues and travel, which is why the day has a mixed character.
What is Decoration Day?
Decoration Day is the original name of Memorial Day. It comes from the practice of decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. In the years after the American Civil War, communities in both the North and the South held such observances. General John A. Logan called for a national Decoration Day on May 30, 1868. Over time the name Memorial Day became more common, and it was made the official federal name by the early 1970s.
Is Memorial Day a public holiday?
Yes. Memorial Day is one of the eleven US federal holidays. Federal offices, courts and banks close, there is no regular mail delivery, and the financial markets are shut. Most state and local government offices and schools also close, and many private employers give staff the day off, though private firms decide for themselves. Because it always falls on a Monday, Memorial Day reliably creates a three-day weekend, which is part of why it is so strongly tied to the start of summer.