Across the country, Memorial Day weekend is synonymous with the unofficial start of summer. Its beginning, however, was more solemn. In 1868, three years after the Civil War ended, May 30 was declared Decoration Day, when the graves of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in that war were adorned with flowers. In 1967, Decoration Day was officially renamed Memorial Day, a time to honor all of the fallen military personnel who died in defense of the United States.
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