After the Civil War, the individual tradition of decorating soldiers' graves became a May event for all. It was known as Decoration Day. Flags and flowers honoring the Union and Rebel dead appeared on the vast number of graves from that war. Sometime in the late 1800s, the name changed to Memorial Day, but that didn't become commonly used until after WWII. Eventually, it became just another 3 day weekend for most people as the number of people directly affected by war faded into history..
To be clear - Memorial Day is not Veterans Day. The former honors the dead, the latter celebrates the living. I still have memories of going to the cemetery in the small town where I lived for the solemn playing of taps, and the shocking loudness of the 21 gun salute.
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