Each year, Americans join together on the last Monday in May to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Memorial Day—originally known as Decoration Day—began after the Civil War and served to honor Union soldiers who died in conflict. Following World War I, its scope was expanded to include those who lost their life in any war or military action. For decades, May 30 was designated as Memorial Day, but following the passage of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, it became a federal holiday observed annually since 1971 on the last Monday in May.
This Memorial Day, Edison residents can remember those who lost their lives protecting our freedom by flying the American flag at half-staff from dawn until noon, participating in a national moment of remembrance at 3:00pm local time, and wearing a red poppy. Other ways to honor the fallen include placing flowers or wreaths on soldiers’ graves and attending memorial services, parades, and other community events.
Although the Edison Public Library is closed in observance of Memorial Day, cardholders can also learn more about its significance, origin, and some of our country’s unsung heroes by picking up one of the following fiction or non-fiction books:
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