Today is Memorial Day.  The last Monday in May is the day that we in the United States celebrate Memorial Day.

This holiday was originally called Decoration Day.  Decoration Day due to the practice of decorating graves of fallen soldiers.

It is a day to remember those that have died serving America.

Here are some interesting facts I found about the history of Memorial Day.

President Lyndon Johnson officially declared Waterloo, New York, the birthplace of Memorial Day in May 1966.

The reason why President Johnson declared Waterloo, New York as the birthplace of Memorial Day was because it was the first state to officially recognize the holiday in 1873. The Southern states that seceded to start the Civil War refused to acknowledge the holiday until after World War 1 That was because until that point the holiday honored only those who fought and died in the Civil War.

The red poppy is a traditional symbol of Memorial Day (many veterans wear them to commemorate the day).

Memorial Day traditionally marks the start of summer, while Labor Day traditionally marks the end.

In 1971 Congress put into law that the holiday would be celebrated on the last Monday in May. This was done in order to ensure a three-day weekend holiday.

I ask that we take time today to remember all the troops and families that sacrifice so much for us.