Friends and families planning to hang out and eat together over the long weekend need to check whether their favorite restaurant chains are open on Monday.
Memorial Day is a federal holiday, which means that mail delivery, non-essential government services, and some stores will shut down to mark the occasion.
The annual event is held to commemorate those who gave their lives serving the U.S. in the armed forces.
Memorial Day’s origins are rooted in the post-Civil War era when a group of Union army veterans known as the Grand Army of the Republic sought a way to honor fallen service members. Originally called Decoration Day, it was first celebrated on May 5, 1868, and involved decorating the graves of those who died in the Civil War with flowers.
Use of the name « Memorial Day » for the holiday became more commonplace after World War I and gained traction after World War II.
