Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial day originated in the years following the Civil War. That gruesome war claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of the country’s first national cemetery. As the years progressed, local communities across the country initiated their own memorial gatherings. As these gatherings became more and more organized, the nation as a whole began to  truly recognize the significance of remembering our fallen men and women. Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971. More than the unofficial start of each Summer season, Memorial Day was, is and must remain a solemn time we set apart once every year to recall and appreciate the ultimate sacrifice that has been paid by so many brave men and women in the service of our country.

(Thank you to History.com as a reference)