Memorial Day

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/memorial-day

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the federal holiday status?Established as a federal holiday in the United States
2. What is the date of observance?The last Monday in May, as standardized by Congress in 1971
3. Why was Memorial Day originally called Decoration Day?It was first called Decoration Day because people gathered after the Civil War to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers.
4. When did Memorial Day become a holiday on the last Monday in May?In 1968 the holiday was moved to the last Monday in May, and in 1971 it was officially named Memorial Day.

Grand Army of the Republic (GAR): A fraternal organization composed of honorably discharged Union soldiers, sailors, and marines who served in the U.S. Army, Navy, or Marine Corps during the American Civil War.
U.S. Armed Forces: The military services of the United States, comprising the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.
Line of Duty: The period during which a member of the armed forces is performing official duties or is subject to military orders.