Memorial Day in the United States is observed on the last Monday of May each year. In 2025, Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 26
. This federal holiday honors and mourns U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. It originated as Decoration Day after the Civil War, with the first national observance on May 30, 1868, but was later moved to the last Monday in May by federal law in 1971 to create a three-day weekend
. Typical observances include visiting cemeteries and memorials, placing American flags on graves, and a national moment of remembrance at 3 p.m. local time
