7 Little Known Facts About Memorial Day

While it may be fun to crank up the BBQ grill for the first time this season and hit the Lake with your boat that's been calling your name since you put it away for winter, it's important to remember the real meaning of Memorial Day Weekend. Many men and women died serving our country so that we would have the freedom to take these long, fun weekends. In honor of the upcoming holiday, the best vacation rental company at Lake of the Ozarks has put together a list of little known facts about Memorial Day:

1. Memorial Day originated following the Civil War. 

Memorial Day was the response to an unprecedented massacre of the Civil War, where nearly 620,000 soldiers from both sides died. The loss of so many lives led to spontaneous commemorations across the country.

2. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. 

To honor the deceased, soldiers would decorate the graves of the fallen with flowers, flags and wreaths.

3. Memorial Day used to be on May 30 each year. 

In 1971, the date Memorial Day was celebrated on shifted from May 30 to the last Monday in May. The main reason for the shift was the create an extended weekend for the holiday.

4. Memorial Day is a Federal Holiday, not a "National Holiday." 

When first adopted, Memorial Day was a federal holiday and therefore, only applied to federal employees and the District of Columbia. For everyone else, the holiday was enacted by each individual state, starting with New York.

5. On the Thursday before Memorial Day, soldiers visit graves of the fallen in Arlington National Cemetery.

Not only do soldiers from the 3rd infantry visit the graves of the fallen, they place flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington. They also patrol the cemetery 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.

6. Waterloo, New York is said to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. 

While Waterloo is most widely recognized as the birthplace of Memorial Day, there's still quite a debate going about it. Other towns, such as Boalsburg, PA, also try to claim the title.

7. In December 2000, a law was passed to have a moment of silence at 3 pm on Memorial Day. 

To ensure the sacrifices of America ’s fallen heroes are never forgotten, the “The National Moment of Remembrance Act” was passed. It encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 pm local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.

Your Lake Vacation wishes you a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! If you're still in need of last minute accommodations for the holiday weekend, give us a call at 877-284-0267 now. We still have availability in several great condos and waterfront homes at the Lake of the Ozarks.

For more information please call us toll free at 1-877-284-0267!!

YourLakeVacation.com

4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076  

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