Memorial Day dedicated to honor American service workers
The three-day weekend many will enjoy with cook-outs and picnics is much more significant than the unofficial beginning of summer across the country.
Next Monday is Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May each year, a holiday designated as a special time for Americans to honor and remember men and women who served and sacrificed in the United States Armed Forces. Memorial Day holds deep significance for the nation as a time to honor and remember the sacrifices made by military personnel. It serves as a reminder of the cost of freedom and the bravery of those who fought to protect it. The day is traditionally marked by ceremonies, parades, and various forms of tribute, including the laying of wreaths at the graves of servicemen and women and the playing of taps.Banks and municipal offices will be closed, and there will be no mail delivery Monday which is a federal holiday.
In 2000, Congress enacted the National Moment of Remembrance Act, which encourages all Americans to pause for a moment of silence at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. This moment serves as a unified expression of gratitude and respect for those who have given their lives in service to the country.
Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, has roots in the aftermath of the American Civil War. The war, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, resulted in the loss of approximately 620,000 soldiers’ lives. In response to this massive loss, local communities began holding tributes to the fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and flags.
The first national observance of Decoration Day took place on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery. The date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of any particular battle, allowing it to be a day of remembrance for all who had died in the war.
Over time, the observance of Decoration Day expanded to honor all American military personnel who had died in all wars. In 1967, the holiday officially became known as Memorial Day. Then, in 1968, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was approved, which moved Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May, creating a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971.
Memorial Day 2025 will be observed with various celebrations and traditions across the country including the National Memorial Day Concert which takes place annually on the Sunday before Memorial Day. It is a televised event that takes place on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
Many cities and towns across the United States plan Memorial Day parades.
WAYNE WESTLAND
In Westland, a parade is set to begin at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 25. The parade will begin at John Glenn High School and end at the Veteran’s Memorial Garden where a memorial ceremony will take place.
BELLEVILLE
In Belleville a memorial parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the Belleville High School parking lot and continue down Main Street. A ceremony by VFW Post 4434 and PLAV Post 167 is planned for 11 a.m.
PLYMOUTH
In Plymouth, the Memorial Day parade will begin at 9 a.m. May 26 at Wing Street and travel down Main Street to the Veterans Memorial Park where a commemorative ceremony will take place.
NORTHVILLE
In Northville, the parade will begin at 10 a.m. May 26 at Griswold and Main streets and travel to Rural Hill Cemetery where a ceremony honoring service men and women is planned.