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 citywide “Decoration Day,…