Memorial Day traces its origins back to the years following the Civil War, long before it officially became a federal holiday in 1971.

After the Civil War ended, communities across the country began organizing ceremonies to honor soldiers who died in the conflict. Graves were decorated with flowers and flags during spring observances held in cemeteries and churchyards.

According to information from the Us Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum, one of the earliest recorded observances took place in Charleston, South Carolina in 1865 following the surrender of the Confederacy.

The holiday was first known as Decoration Day. In 1868, General John Logan called for May 30th to become a national day of remembrance for Civil War soldiers. One of the first major observances was held at Arlington National Cemetery, where thousands of graves were decorated during a ceremony that included a speech from General James Garfield.

In 1966, the federal government recognized Waterloo, New York as the official birthplace of Memorial Day because of annual community observances that began there in 1866.

Following World War I, the holiday expanded beyond the Civil War to honor Americans killed in all military conflicts. That includes World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Congress later approved the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. The change took effect in 1971, when Memorial Day also became an official federal holiday.