Memorial Day Fun Facts
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Memorial Day Important Dates
Memorial Day Traditions
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Memorial Day takes place on the last Monday of this month

What is May?

100

This man held the first Memorial Day commemoration

Who is General John A. Logan? He was the commander of the Union veteran's group Grand Army of the Republic 

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In 1873, this state was the first state to designate Memorial Day a legal holiday

What is New York? By the late 1800s, many more cities observed Memorial Day, and several states had declared it a legal holiday

100

People often wear these on Memorial Day to honor those fallen in war

What are red poppies? This tradition came from a World War 1 poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae

200

Memorial Day was originally known by this name

What is Decoration Day? It came from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags

200

Memorial Day is commemorated here

What is Arlington National Cemetery? A ceremony is held here each year in which a small American flag is placed on each grave

200

Memorial Day was first widely observed on this day

What is May 30, 1865? It was to commemorate the sacrifices of civil war soldiers

200

The American flag is flown at this position on Memorial Day

What is half staff?

300

Memorial Day is considered to be the unofficial start to this

What is summer?

300

In his famous poem, John McCrae states that poppies grow in this field

What is Flanders Fields?

300

In 1968, congress passed this act that established Memorial Day was to be commemorated on the last Monday of May

What is the Uniform Monday Holiday Act? It was put into effect in 1971

300

A Moment of National Silence is held at this time of day

What is 3:00 PM? This was designated by the National Moment of Remembrance Act that was passed in 2000

400

Memorial Day first began after the end of this war

What is the Civil War?

400

On the first Decoration Day, this general made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery

Who is General James Garfield?

400

One of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations was held in this city

What is Charleston, SC? The commemoration was held by a group of formerly enslaved people less than a month after the Confederacy surrendered

400

This sporting event is held the Sunday before Memorial Day

What is the Indianapolis 500?

500

Memorial day was chosen to be held in May because these would be in bloom all over the country

What are flowers?

500

The graves of 20,000 Civil War soldiers were decorated with flower, wreaths, and flags at the first Decoration Day by this many participants

What is 5,000?

500

In 1866, this president pro­claimed Waterloo, New York, as the official birthplace of Memorial Day

Who is Lyndon B. Johnson?

500

Traditionally, the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the this monument

What is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier? The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a symbolic grave for all service members who died in battle who have not been found or remain unidentified.