From PBS:
"In 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and established that Memorial Day was to be commemorated on the last Monday of May. Several southern states, however, officially commemorate an additional, separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead, sometimes referred to as a Confederate Memorial Day: January 19 in Texas; third Monday in Jan. in Arkansas; fourth Monday in Apr. in Alabama and Mississippi; April 26 in Florida and Georgia; May 10 in North and South Carolina; last Monday in May in Virginia; and June 3 in Louisiana and Tennessee.
Memorial Day is commemorated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally, the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually."
Despite that, every year I see and hear people describing this day as one to show appreciation for those brave heroes keeping us safe by serving in our military. No.
And also remember this: Veterans Day is to show appreciation for living people who served (PAST tense) in the military. Men and women become veterans once they leave service.
If you want to do something this Memorial Day, go visit your local cemetery and place flowers or a flag on the grave of a man or women who served. And say "thank you".
On Sand Mountain in north Alabama Memorial Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in May. It is called Third Sunday. A time for family reunions,preaching and dinner on the ground. The third Sunday was chosen because that was the time of the year when the dirt roads dried out and wagons would not get stuck.
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