Many people confuse Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Veterans Day.
Why do you think that is? Each of these holidays focuses on
honoring a group of people, but there are differences that make them unique.
Memorial Day is celebrated every year on the last Monday in May, and some people call this the
beginning of the summer season. But this holiday is more than a kickoff to summer. Memorial Day is
meant to celebrate, honor, and remember all of the men and women in the military who died fighting for
the United States. Originally called Decoration Day, because family members would decorate the graves
of the soldiers that died, this special day was named Memorial Day in 1950. A good way to remember
what Memorial Day is all about is to think of the word "memory," which is related to the word memorial.
On Memorial Day, people honor the memory of those who have died in service to their country.
Labor Day is a day that celebrates American workers. This holiday's purpose is to recognize the hard work
that has helped this country do well. Labor Day is often the symbolic end of summer because it is
celebrated on the first Monday in September. Many people do not work on Labor Day, and they treat the
day like it's the last day of summer. Filled with swimming, going to the beach, traveling, and enjoying
time with friends and family, people take their extra day off and enjoy it. Labor Day has no connection to
the military or veterans.
Veterans Day is a day to honor veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. A veteran is
a person who was formerly part of the armed forces. The United States Armed Forces includes the Army,
Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. Veterans Day is on November 11, when all
government offices and many schools and businesses are closed to observe the holiday. There are parades
and celebrations to honor veterans.
Directions: Respond to the prompt below. Use complete sentences and details from the text to support your answer.
Why is it important to know the differences between Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Veterans Day?