Memorial Day is a day for remembrance

"Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags, Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. 

"It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers."

Army Pvt. Aaron Johnson places a small American flag in front of a gravesite headstone during the annual "Flags In" event at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., May 24, 2012. Johnson, assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, the Army's "Old Guard,” and his comrades placed flags in front of more than 260,000 gravesite headstones and about 7,300 niches at the cemetery's columbarium. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jose A. Torres Jr.

http://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/memorial-day/history/