Did you know Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, was originally known as Decoration Day and was held to commemorate those who lost their lives during the Civil War? While Americans everywhere would pray and leave flowers at the graves of the fallen soldiers each spring, the town of Waterloo, New York, which had its first community holiday on May 5, 1866, is believed to be the birthplace of the Memorial Day tradition. Two years later, May 30 was chosen as the official date of Decoration Day, though not all states adopted the date until after World War I; it was also at this point the holiday was modified to honor the fallen of all wars, rather than just the Civil War. Finally, in 1971, three years after the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed, Memorial Day was moved to the last Monday in May and became a federal holiday.

Today, while many people still celebrate traditionally by praying and leaving flowers or flags at gravesites, a large number of Americans celebrate by attending Memorial Day parades. The largest of these parades, the American Veterans Center’s National Memorial Day Parade, can be found at the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., along the National Mall. Other notable parades take place in New York, including the oldest parade in Brooklyn, which is over 150 years old, and in Chicago. Whether you attend a parade, throw a barbeque, or watch a movie that embodies what Memorial Day represents - the sacrifice and bravery of the soldiers who protect us - please join the rest of the country for the National Moment of Remembrance, which takes place every Memorial Day at 3 pm.