What is Memorial Day really about?

What is Memorial Day really about?
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving in the United States Armed Forces. In other words, the purpose of Memorial Day is to memorialize the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

In May 1868, General John A. Logan, the commander-in-chief of the Union veterans' group known as the Grand Army of the Republic, issued a decree that May 30 should become a nationwide day of commemoration for the more than 620,000 soldiers killed in the recently ended American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored their dead. Originally known as Decoration Day, it became an official federal holiday in 1971, when Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May. To ensure the sacrifices of America’s fallen heroes are never forgotten, President Bill Clinton signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act” in December of 2000, which encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. Federal guidelines say the flag should be displayed at half-staff only until noon, then go up to full-staff until sundown. Many times Memorial Day is confused with Veterans Day, observed every November 11, recognizes all who have served in the Armed Forces.
Americans don't typically wear poppies on November 11 (Veterans Day), which honors all living veterans. Instead, they wear the symbolic red flower on Memorial Day to commemorate the sacrifice of so many men and women who have given their lives fighting for their country. The Remembrance Day symbolism of the poppy started with a poem “In Flanders Field,” written by a World War I Canadian brigade surgeon, LtCol John McCrae, who was struck by the sight of the red flowers growing on a ravaged battlefield.

“In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

nScarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.