Memorial Day in the United States
When is Memorial Day in United States?
Memorial Day in United States is on May 31, 2027. It falls on Monday.
How many days until Memorial Day in United States?
There are 295 Days left until Memorial Day in the United States.
Is Memorial Day a public holiday in United States?
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on the last Monday of May. It is a day of national remembrance dedicated to honoring the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Originally known as Decoration Day, this holiday traces its roots to the aftermath of the American Civil War and has since evolved into one of the most solemn observances on the American calendar.
As a federal holiday, government offices, banks, post offices, and public schools are closed. Many private businesses also close or operate on reduced hours. The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ are closed for the trading day. Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer in the United States, and millions of Americans observe it with family gatherings, barbecues, and outdoor activities alongside more solemn acts of remembrance.
Memorial Day History and Origin
The origins of Memorial Day stretch back to the years immediately following the Civil War (1861–1865), the deadliest conflict in American history with an estimated 620,000 military deaths. Communities across both the North and South began holding springtime tributes to fallen soldiers, decorating graves with flowers and flags.
Decoration Day
On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), issued General Order No. 11 designating May 30 as a day "for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country." The date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of any particular battle. The first large-scale observance took place at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1868, where both Union and Confederate graves were decorated with flowers and small American flags.
Several communities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, including Waterloo, New York (recognized by Congress and President Lyndon Johnson in 1966), Columbus, Mississippi, and Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. Regardless of which community originated the tradition, the practice of decorating soldiers' graves spread rapidly across the country during the late 1860s and 1870s.
From Decoration Day to Memorial Day
For decades, the observance was known as Decoration Day and honored only Civil War dead. After World War I, the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars. The name "Memorial Day" gradually came into common use during the 1880s but was not officially recognized until 1967 by federal law. New York became the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday in 1873, and by the 1890s every northern state had followed suit.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act
In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May, creating a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change took effect in 1971. While the legislation aimed to encourage travel, recreation, and commerce, some veterans' organizations opposed the move, arguing that a fixed date carried more solemnity. In 2000, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act, encouraging all Americans to pause for one minute at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day to remember and reflect.
Memorial Day Traditions and Observances
Memorial Day is observed through a combination of solemn national ceremonies, community traditions, and personal acts of remembrance. The day carries deep emotional significance for military families, veterans, and communities across the country.
National Wreath-Laying at Arlington
The most prominent national observance takes place at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Each year, the President of the United States or another high-ranking official places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Small American flags are placed on every one of the more than 400,000 graves at Arlington by members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment ("The Old Guard") in a tradition known as "Flags In," which typically takes place the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend.
Flying the American Flag at Half-Staff
On Memorial Day, the American flag is flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon to honor the fallen. At noon, it is raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day, symbolizing the resolve of the living to ensure that those who gave their lives did not do so in vain. This protocol is outlined in the U.S. Flag Code (4 U.S.C. § 7) and applies to all government buildings, military installations, and naval vessels. Many private citizens and businesses also follow this tradition.
Memorial Day Parades
Thousands of cities and towns across the United States organize Memorial Day parades. These events typically feature veterans' organizations, active-duty military personnel, marching bands, JROTC units, first responders, and floats decorated in red, white, and blue. Some of the largest and most well-known parades take place in Washington D.C., New York City (where the parade along Fifth Avenue has been held since 1919), and Chicago. Smaller communities hold equally meaningful ceremonies with local veterans leading processions to town memorials and cemeteries.
Cemetery Visits and Grave Decoration
Visiting national cemeteries and local gravesites remains one of the most personal and enduring Memorial Day traditions. Families and volunteers place flowers, wreaths, and American flags on the graves of fallen service members. The Wreaths Across America organization, while primarily associated with its December program, also supports Memorial Day remembrance events. Many communities hold roll calls reading the names of local residents who died in military service.
National Memorial Day Concert
The National Memorial Day Concert, held on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol, has been a tradition since 1989. The free public event features performances by the National Symphony Orchestra, celebrity appearances, and dramatic readings that tell the stories of fallen service members and their families. The concert is broadcast live on PBS and reaches millions of viewers nationwide and internationally through the American Forces Network.
The National Moment of Remembrance
Since 2000, Americans have been encouraged to pause at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a National Moment of Remembrance. Amtrak trains sound their horns, Major League Baseball games pause, and many radio and television stations observe the moment. The initiative was created by the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance to shift the focus of the holiday back to its true purpose.
Poppy Flowers
The red poppy has been a symbol of Memorial Day since 1921, inspired by the World War I poem "In Flanders Fields" by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) began selling artificial poppies in 1922 to raise funds for disabled veterans, and the tradition continues today. Volunteers distribute small red poppy pins in the weeks leading up to Memorial Day, and many Americans wear them on their lapels throughout the weekend as a visible symbol of remembrance.
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | May 31 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| 2028 | May 29 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| 2029 | May 28 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| 2030 | May 27 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| 2031 | May 26 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| 2032 | May 31 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Labor Day | September 07, 2026 |
| Columbus Day | October 12, 2026 |
| Halloween | October 31, 2026 |
Download or print free 2026 calendar which includes the list of holidays in United States. Free holiday calendar templates in more than 130 countries are provided in PDF, Excel, and Microsoft Word format. For those who like to get a calendar that starts on Monday, we also have ISO calendar.
The August 2026 monthly calendar for the United States shows the holidays for the month, which is helpful in planning schedule and events in reference to the upcoming holidays in the US. It is available in PDF, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel formats. You may select your preferred orientation and preferred start of week since we have Monday start calendar or Sunday start calendar.
If you are looking to print or download just a list of holidays in United States for the year 2026, we have that available in PDF, Word and Excel formats. This can be helpful for those who like to keep track of the holidays, be it for travel, work or any other purposes. It is free to use, just like the rest of our templates.