Inside: Despite the enjoyable family time Memorial Day weekend offers, its fundamental purpose is to remember and honor fallen heroes. Grab these printable facts to ensure your children fully grasp the true essence of Memorial Day.
As Memorial Day approaches, it’s important to remember the true meaning behind this holiday and pass down its significance to the younger generation.
For that reason, I put together these 15 printable fact cards. They highlight essential facts about Memorial Day and emphasize the holiday’s historical importance. And perhaps, they will even spark your kids’ interest in history.
As with all Kid Minds facts, beautiful watercolor designs transform learning into a visual delight, making education a fun and engaging process.
These facts delve into the essential elements every child needs to understand about this significant day. By educating our children about Memorial Day, we foster a sense of respect and gratitude for those fallen heroes. I believe that imparting knowledge is a small yet significant way we can pay tribute to their bravery and sacrifice.
Memorial Day Facts for Kids
1. Decoration Day
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because of the tradition of adorning soldiers’ graves with flowers.
2. Decoration Day became Memorial Day
The holiday was officially renamed Memorial Day in 1967, 100 years after its first observance.
3. The First Memorial Day
The first Memorial Day celebration took place on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery.
4. Gettysburg Address
A significant aspect of early Memorial Day ceremonies was the reading of the Gettysburg Address, one of President Abraham Lincoln’s most famous speeches.
5. The Birthplace of Memorial Day
Waterloo, New York, is officially recognized as the birthplace of Memorial Day, as declared by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966.
6. May 30th
The date of May 30th was initially chosen for Memorial Day as it was not the anniversary of a particular battle.
7. Cost of War
More than a million American service members have died in wars.
![Memorial Day Memorial Day](/library/visualizations/2022/comm/memorial-day/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/embeddableimage.coreimg.jpeg/1653594867289/memorial-day-infographic-stacked.jpeg)
This infographic evokes a strong emotional reaction. It compiles statistics from the United States Census Bureau and the Department of Defense to illustrate the number of people who served and died in each war.
8. National Moment of Remembrance
In 2000, the U.S. Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act, encouraging people to observe a moment of silence at 3:00 PM local time to honor those who have died in service.
9. The Significance of Red Poppy
The red poppy, a symbol of World War I inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” is often worn or displayed on Memorial Day to honor fallen soldiers.
10. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Every year, the President or Vice President of the U.S. delivers a speech and lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery.
11. To Remember and Honor
Memorial Day was originally established to honor the soldiers who died during the American Civil War, but it was later expanded to commemorate all men and women who have died in any war or military action.
12. It’s a federal holiday
Memorial Day did not become a federal holiday until 1971.
13. It’s the Unofficial Start of Summer
Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of the summer season in the United States.
14. Flying the Flag at Half Stuff
Many Americans fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time in observance of Memorial Day.
15. Major Sporting Events
Major sporting events frequently take place on this day, with the Indianapolis 500 car race being associated with the Memorial Day weekend since 1911.
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