US "Memorial Day" on May 30, 2011

US Embassy in Philippines Public Announcement: "The U.S. Embassy will be closed for business on Monday, May 30, 2011 in observance of the U.S. Holiday, Memorial Day. Regular office will resume on Tuesday, May 31, 2011.". Check their announcement on its Facebook page,

"Memorial Day Message US Troop Commanders Iraq Brig. Gen. Don S. Cornett Jr., Commanding General of the 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and Command Sgt. Maj. Debbie Schroder, Command Sergeant Major of the 310th ESC give a Memorial Day message from Joint Base Balad, Iraq, recognizing the Service Members deployed through out the world and those who gave their lives answering the call to duty."

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in the United States' service.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11.

It was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery, according to an article on a website on the holiday.

The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states, the article said.

But the South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war, it added.

The article said Memorial Day is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May, following the National Holiday Act of 1971, to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays.

source:GMANews