Memorial Day is one of 11 federal holidays celebrated annually across the United States.
The holiday, celebrated on the last Monday of May, honors military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. It is different from Veterans’ Day, intended to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military—living and dead—whether in wartime or peace, according to Veterans Affairs. Like Memorial Day, Veterans’ Day is also a federal holiday.
Memorial Day is also called Decoration Day, the holiday’s original name, by many. Established in the years following the Civil War, Decoration Day was reserved to clean and decorate the graves of fallen service members with flowers and flags.
Here are ways Memorial Day is observed in Oklahoma and around the nation.
National Moment of Remembrance
The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a two-minute moment of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.
A similar practice is held on Veterans Day to honor all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Common Memorial Day practices
Core Memorial Day practices include decorating war graves with flowers and American flags, displaying the flag at half-staff from sunrise until noon, observing the National Moment of Remembrance and attending community ceremonies either virtually or in person.
Other traditions include wearing a red poppy, inspired by the WWI poem In Flanders Fields. The poppy serves as a symbol of remembrance for those who sacrificed their lives. Family and friends of fallen soldiers might also partake in the tradition of the “Missing Man Table,” which features an empty chair, an inverted glass, a white tablecloth and a single rose to remember service members who did not return from battle.
Organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the American Legion might host local ceremonies.
Oklahoma American Legion to host ceremony
The American Legion Department of Oklahoma Post 353 will host a ceremony at 11:30 a.m. on Monday at the Mustang Cemetery.
Mustang Mayor Michael Steven Ray will be the speaker at the ceremony, which will also feature a performance from the 395th Army Band. The Mustang-stationed band is one of only 13 Army Reserve Bands in the United States.
Military Museums in Oklahoma
Oklahoma is home to several military museums, and a common Memorial Day tradition is to visit one to pay respects to the fallen soldiers.
Arlington National Cemetery livestreaming event
The Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia will host the 158th National Memorial Day Observance in its Memorial Amphitheater.
Pre-event programming begins at 9:45 a.m. CT, with the official event starting at 11 a.m. CT. The event typically includes an address from the President and military musical tributes.
In the evening, it will host a candlelight storytelling experience at the Amphitheater honoring fallen service members. The event is part of Freedom250, a project celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Isa Almeida is a trending reporter for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Isa? She can be reached at ialmeida@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @ialmeidasports. Support Isa’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What is Memorial Day? 5 ways to recognize holiday in Oklahoma
