This year was on 28th May.
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that is observed on the
last Monday of May (observed in 2007 on May 28). It was formerly known
as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have
died in military service to their country. It began first to honor
Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War
I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military
action. One of the longest standing traditions is the running of the
Indianapolis 500, which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day
since 1911. It is also traditionally viewed as the beginning of summer
by many, for many schools are dismissed around Memorial Day. According
to Professor David Blight of the Yale University History Department, the
first memorial day was observed in 1865 by liberated slaves at the
historic race track in Charleston. The site was a former Confederate
prison camp as well as a mass grave for Union soldiers who had died
while captive. A parade with thousands of freed blacks and Union
soldiers was followed by patriotic singing and a picnic.
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