b'Army and Navy adopted regulations for proper observance at their facilities.It was not until after World War I, however, that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holidayby an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays.Some States Have Confederate Observances Many Southern states also have their own days for honoring the Confederate dead. Mississippi celebrates Confederate Memorial Day on the last Monday of April, Alabama on the fourth Monday of April, and Georgia on April 26. North and South Carolina observe it on May 10, Louisiana on June 3 and(U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released)Tennessee calls that date Confederate Decoration Day. Texas1.1 million Americans who have died in the nations wars: Not celebrates Confederate Heroes Day January 19 and Virginiaonly are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions, calls the last Monday in May Confederate Memorial Day. but there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven Gen. Logans order for his posts to decorate graves in 1868not on stone but in the hearts of men.with the choicest flowers of springtime urged: We shouldTo ensure the sacrifices of America s fallen heroes are guard their graves with sacred vigilance. . Let pleasant pathsnever forgotten, in December 2000, the U.S. Congress invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fondpassed and the president signed into law The National mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to theMoment of Remembrance Act, P.L. 106-579, creating the present or to the coming generations that we have forgottenWhite House Commission on the National Moment of as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic. Remembrance. The commissions charter is to encourage American Flagsthe people of the United States to give something back to The crowd attending the first Memorial Day ceremony attheir country, which provides them so much freedom and Arlington National Cemetery was approximately the sameopportunity by encouraging and coordinating commemorations size as those that attend todays observance, about 5,000in the United States of Memorial Day and the National people. Then, as now, small American flags were placed Moment of Remembrance. on each gravea tradition followed at many national The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all cemeteries today. In recent years, the custom has grown Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time in many families to decorate the graves of all departed on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and loved ones. honor those who have died in service to the nation. The origins of special services to honor those who die inAs Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada war can be found in antiquity. The Athenian leader Periclesstates: Its a way we can all help put the memorial back in offered a tribute to the fallen heroes of the PeloponnesianMemorial Day. JWar over 24 centuries ago that could be applied today to thehttps://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.aspView of Arlington National Cemetery, WIMSA and Arlington House. Photo by Jennifer LynchThank You For Your Service HApril 2021H Military Appreciation Resource Magazine 7'