Memorial Day 2026 History And Significance. Memorial day, initially referred to as decoration day, was observed by many communities after the civil war, when the nation suffered more than 620,000 military deaths,. Memorial day was originally held in may to remember soldiers who died in the civil war, which ended in the spring of 1865.

Memorial day is a federal holiday observed every year on the last monday in may. Memorial day 2026 which is often referred to.