Memorial Day 2024 will be observed on Monday, May 27, 2024. The last Monday in May is designated for this federal holiday. Memorial Day honors American military personnel who died in all wars and flags are flown at half staff until noon on that day. Originally it was called Decoration Day because Americans would decorate the graves of soldiers who died in the Civil War. It became a federal holiday in 1971.
Although summer does not officially start until June 20, 2024, Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer. In addition to placing flowers and flags on graves to honor military personnel who perished in wars, there are parades, picnics and barbecues to celebrate the (unofficial) start of summer.