Memorial Day is an American national holiday that pays tribute to military personnel who died in service to the country. The day is celebrated annually on the last Monday in May.
Previously known as Decoration Day, several cities now claim to have established the holiday, but in 1966 Congress declared Waterloo, New York, the birthplace of Memorial Day.
Originally it was honored by soldiers who died in the Civil War (1861-1865).
Currently, everyone who died in war in the service of the United States is celebrated.
Chronology
May 5, 1866 – Residents of Waterloo, New York, celebrated Memorial Day to honor military personnel who died during the Civil War. On that day, businesses closed and people decorated soldiers' graves.
1868 – General John Alexander Logan officially proclaimed May 30, 1868, as Memorial Day to honor Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. After World War I, southern states celebrated a separate Memorial Day in honor of fallen Confederates.
1971 – The US Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday in May.
December 28, 2000 – President Bill Clinton signed the “National Moment of Remembrance Act,” which designates 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day each year as the national Moment of Remembrance.
When is Memorial Day?
In 2024, Memorial Day is celebrated on May 27th.
American war deaths
Civil war: approximately 620,000 Americans died. The Union lost almost 365,000 soldiers and the Confederacy about 260,000. More than half of these deaths were caused by disease.
First World War: 116,516 Americans died, more than half from disease.
Second World War: 405,399 Americans died.
Korean War: 36,574 Americans died.
Vietnam Conflict: 58,220 Americans died.
Gulf War – Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm: 383 soldiers died.
Iraq War – Operation Iraqi Freedom: 4,410 soldiers died.
Iraq War – Operation New Dawn: 73 soldiers died.
Operation Enduring Freedom (American government military response to the September 11, 2001 attacks): 2,347 soldiers died.
War in Afghanistan – Operation Freedom Sentinel: 69 soldiers died in May 2019.
Combined Joint Task Force (in Iraq and Syria): 76 soldiers died in May 2019.
Source: CNN Brasil
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