By Samira Hedayat
Flag Day. Armed Forces Day. Independence Day. As Americans, we celebrate dozens of patriotic holidays throughout the year. However, two of these days — Memorial Day and Veterans Day — are often confused for the other and can be easily misunderstood.
Understanding the nuances of Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day might seem confusing at first – they do both honor the military community – but a quick Google search (or a quick four-minute read of this story) will show you that these two federal holidays couldn’t be more different.
Photo credit DVIDS/Elizabeth Fraser
Family, friends, and visitors honor the fallen in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, May 26, 2019.
Memorial Day: Honoring Those Who Died in Military Service
Memorial Day, which is celebrated on the last Monday in May, honors service members who have died in military service to the nation. The holiday has roots dating back to the post-Civil War era, when citizens would informally place spring flower memorials on the graves of fallen soldiers.
On May 5, 1866, the town of Waterloo, New York, formalized this ritual and hosted a city-wide “Decoration Day,” encouraging its citizens to create memorials on soldiers’ graves with flags and flowers. A few years later in 1868, Gen. John A. Logan declared that the first-ever national Decoration Day should take place on May 30, as the date was a neutral day for both sides of the Civil War to honor their fallen soldiers.
On May 20, 1868, over 5,000 first-ever National Decoration Day participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery. By the late 1800s, cities and communities across the United States began to observe the day and several states declared it a legal holiday.
Over the next few decades, the day transitioned from being called Decoration Day to its current name of Memorial Day.
In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May instead of a set calendar day. By 1971, the three-day weekend for federal employees went into full effect.
Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Hotz, leads the 338th Army Band as the drum major during the Memorial Day parade in Blue Ash, Ohio on May 27, 2019. | Photo credit DVIDS/ Sgt. 1st Class Joel Quebec
Today, Memorial Day is often associated with the start of summer, discount sales and cookouts with friends. But you have the power to educate those around you and take a few moments to pay tribute to the fallen while still enjoying the sunshine and outdoors. Here are a few ideas:
1) Participate in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00pm
2) Visit a military cemetery or memorial
3) Display the U.S. flag at your home
4) Watch the National Memorial Day Concert
Photo credit U.S. Air Force/Mauricio Campino
Josie Donithan, USO Delaware volunteer, serves food to Honor Guard team members and mortuary staff prior to a dignified transfer on Jan. 24, 2019, at Dover Air Force Base, Del.
You can also learn more about the USO’s support of Gold Star Families – also known as Families of the Fallen. Since 1991, the USO has been present at every single dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base.
Here, the USO supports Gold Star Spouses and families alike, from their journey to Dover to the process of the dignified transfer of the remains of their loved one who died in service. The USO also provides support to the service members facilitating the transfer and serving in the military Honor Guard, as undertaking such a solemn mission can obviously take its toll on service members, many of whom have also traveled to Dover.
Photo credit DVIDS/Senior Airman Anthony Agosti
Over 1000 flags wave in the wind for a Veterans Day weekend event on Nov. 9, 2018 in Hermitage, Tennessee.
Veterans Day: Honoring All Those Who Served in the Military
Veterans Day, a federal holiday that falls on November 11, is designated as a day to honor the more than 19 million men and women who have served in the U.S. military.
It was first observed on November 11, 1919, as Armistice Day in honor of the first anniversary of the end of World War I, which officially ended on the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in 1918. In 1926, Congress called for an annual observance of the anniversary and by 1938 it was an official federal holiday. A few decades later, in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, as it is currently known today.
U.S. Air Force Kadena Air Base honor guard members march in the Veteran’s Day Parade, Nov. 11, 2018 | Photo credit DVIDS/ Senior Airman Kristan Campbell
Thanks to the Uniform Holiday Act of 1968, the holiday was moved from its November 11 date to a less-defined “fourth Monday in October” so workers could enjoy a long weekend. However, this move didn’t last long. In 1975, President Gerald Ford returned the solemn day back to its original November 11 to honor the global historical significance of the day.
While it is important to thank all those who have served or are serving on a regular basis, on Veterans Day it’s especially important to take an extra moment to show military members gratitude for their sacrifice. Here are some ideas, beyond simply saying “thank you for your service:”
1) Attend a Veterans Day event
2) Ask about a veteran’s time in the military
3) Display the U.S. flag in your home
4) Volunteer for, or donate to, a military support nonprofit like the USO
5) Read a book or watch a movie about U.S. military history
A service member and a military spouse meet with a USO Transition Specialist to discuss next steps in their career searches beyond the military.
You can also learn more about the USO Pathfinder Transition® Program, which supports the success of American veterans of tomorrow.
Essentially, through the USO Pathfinder Transition Program, service members (and their spouses) have access to professional, educational, financial and personal development services that can help prepare them for civilian life after they separate from the military. Once enrolled in the program, they are assigned a USO Transition Specialist who works with them one-on-one to develop a personalized Action Plan that is best suited for their goals. USO Transition Specialists tailor each USO Pathfinder experience to each client so they can thrive as a veteran or military spouse, both personally and professionally.
This can include everything from learning how to translate military experience to a civilian resume, to assisting a military spouse in earning a degree that they can use in remote jobs from one duty station to the next, to organizing personal finances, to even learning how to tie a tie.
Transitioning from a military life to a civilian one can undoubtedly be challenging. It is important that service members and military spouses know that even as they transition from the military, the USO and the our supporters stand ready to support them as they find their way.
-This article was originally published in 2019. It has been updated in 2022.