While Memorial Day signifies the start of summer and is celebrated with local parades, cook outs and visits to the beach, the history is quite interesting.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday and always celebrated the last Monday in May.  Traditionally Memorial Day was a day to honor soldiers who had died by decorating their graves.  The first widely publicized observance of this kind was shortly after the Civil War in Charleston, SC on May 1, 1865.  It became an official federal holiday in 1971.

Two little known facts about Memorial Day are the tradition of the raising of the flag to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowering it to the half-staff position until noon. The flag is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the holiday.  This tradition typically performed by those men and women who have served their country, in honor of those who valiantly gave their lives.

Another tradition is poppies and often veterans will be seen selling poppies; a tradition from WWI whos origin stems from the poem “In Flanders Field” which memorialized the poppies that grew in between the soldiers’ graves.

The holiday has extended beyond just soldiers and many will visit the graves of their loved ones on this day and there are a lot of great ways to spend Memorial Day in or near West Hills, CA – No matter how you choose to celebrate Memorial Day, make it a safe and memorial one.