When is Memorial Day 2026? How to honor fallen service members
When is Memorial Day 2026? How to honor fallen service members
Daniella Segura, USA TODAY NETWORKFri, May 15, 2026 at 9:28 PM UTC
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As the days start getting warmer, it means the unofficial start of summer is nearly here.
Memorial Day — a holiday meant to mourn and honor United States military personnel who died while serving — this year falls on Monday, May 25.
And while the day is often associated with beach trips and barbecues, it is at its core a day of remembrance.
“Memorial Day is important to me because I honor those who have sacrificed their lives and their family's lives in pursuit of freedom for our nation,” Army veteran Edwin Martinez told the Wounded Warrior Project. “What greater gift can one man or woman sacrifice to keep the U.S. free and maintain our way of life?”
Here’s what to know about Memorial Day, including its historical significance.
Memorial Day’s historical context
Originally known as Decoration Day, the day was formalized by a "Memorial Day Order" in 1868, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The country did not establish it as a federal holiday until more than a century later in 1971.
“After the Civil War, Americans across the nation began holding tributes to honor the approximately 620,000 soldiers who lost their lives — about 2% of the population at the time,” the Wounded Warrior Project says. “These early observances typically included decorating graves with flowers, reciting prayers, and paying respect to the fallen.”
But records of the first Memorial Day celebration date back further. Another record, discovered by a Yale University professor at a Harvard archive, points to the earliest Memorial Day possibly being in 1865 by “a group of formerly enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina,” the Wounded Warrior Project says.
“Records show that the group transformed a racetrack that had once served as a prison for Union captives into a proper burial site,” according to the nonprofit. “On May 1, 1865, thousands gathered for a procession led by 3,000 school children carrying flowers and singing patriotic songs.”
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When is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May annually, which falls on May 25 this year.
Here are Memorial Days in the coming years:
2027: Monday, May 31
2028: Monday, May 29
2029: Monday, May 28
2030: Monday, May 27
2031: Monday, May 26
How to honor Memorial Day
To honor Memorial Day, Americans can take part in the National Moment of Remembrance.
"This practice encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3:00 p.m. local time for a moment of silence to remember and honor those who died in service to the nation," according to the U.S. Congress.
Other ways to honor Memorial Day include placing flags on gravestones in cemeteries and distributing flags to people participating in parades.
"The American flag may also be flown or hung outdoors at an individual's home," Congress says.
Is Memorial Day a federal holiday?
Yes. Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States.
Is Memorial Day a paid holiday?
Even though Memorial Day is a federal holiday, civilian workers are not guaranteed a paid day off, as it is not required by law. However, in 2017, 90% of civilian workers were paid for the holiday, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: When is Memorial Day 2026?
Source: “AOL Breaking”
