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IT WASN'T ALWAYS CELEBRATED THE LAST MONDAY OF MAY: After the Civil War, General John A. Logan, commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, called for a holiday commemorating fallen soldiers to be observed every May 30. But due to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which took effect in 1971, Memorial Day was moved to the last Monday of May to ensure long weekends. Some groups, like the veterans’ organization American Legion, have been working to restore the original date to set the day apart and pay proper tribute to the servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives defending the nation.
Memorial Day was not just invented as an excuse to take a long weekend and loaf around eating grilled meats. While that’s certainly part of it, the holiday was established to honor those who’d died in the bloody conflicts of the Civil War, and continues to serve as a day of remembrance.
So as we take the time to remember and honor our brave veterans, click through the photo gallery and take a look at some little-known facts about everyone’s favorite summer kickoff holiday.
This story was originally posted at TIME.COM, to read it, CLICK HERE.
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