Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday of May—this year, it falls on May 26. This federal holiday is dedicated to Americans who have died while in military service. Many Americans also view it as the unofficial beginning of summer.

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day because of the associated tradition of decorating the graves of those who had died. Now, volunteers continue to decorate the graves in national cemeteries with flags each Memorial Day. Individual people and families also decorate the graves of their deceased friends and relatives according to their individual traditions.

Memorial Day originated after the American Civil War, which brought truly devastating losses to the country for this time in its history. Although the official birthplace of the holiday is Waterloo, New York, several other U.S. cities had also created similar holidays by the time the holiday a veterans’ organization officially established the holiday in 1868. After World War I, the scope of the holiday was expanded to all Americans who had died in military action or during any war.

Congress first named Memorial Day a federal holiday in 1968. In addition to the federal government, many businesses throughout the United States observe Memorial Day. As a result, the three-day weekend is a busy time for travel. Parades and other forms of outdoor celebration, such as concerts, are also common.

In fact, in recent years, some have worried that the true significance of Memorial Day has been lost for many Americans. In December 2000, the federal government instituted the National Moment of Remembrance in an effort to address this deficiency. The National Moment of Remembrance asks that all Americans pause at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day to reflect on those who have died.

Like other national holidays, Memorial Day is a time for people of all different faiths, backgrounds, and cultures to come together in recognition of their common history and principles. Honoring the dead is a tradition that exists across cultural and national barriers.

Furthermore, the American armed forces have historically included people of all racial and national backgrounds—including many immigrants. In fact, immigrants who have served in the military have traditionally been allowed a special route to naturalization; this tradition persists to this day, with over 39,000 members of the armed forces naturalized since September 2001. The federal government also grants posthumous citizenship to certain nonresidents who die while serving the U.S. military—yet another way of honoring those who have died while serving the country, regardless of their country of birth.

So all in all, Memorial Day is a bittersweet time for immigrants and non-immigrants alike, as we mourn those whose lives have been lost but also reflect on the principles that continue to unite us, regardless of individual differences. We at Zhang & Associates would like to wish all of our clients and readers a happy and restful Memorial Day.

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Founded in 1996, Zhang & Associates, P.C. offers legal services to clients nationwide in all aspects of U.S immigration law. We have successfully handled thousands of immigration cases.
At Zhang & Associates, P.C., our attorneys and supporting professionals are committed to providing high-quality immigration and non-immigration visa services. We specialize in NIW, EB-1, PERM, and I-485 cases. In the past twelve years, we have successfully helped thousands of clients get green cards. If you plan to apply for a green card, please send your CV to Attorney Jerry Zhang (info@hooyou.com) for a free evaluation.
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