The Congressional Research Service calls it a day to remember U.S. military personnel who perished.
1. What's Memorial Day's official purpose?
The festival commemorates the American Civil War, which killed over 600,000 Union and Confederate soldiers between 1861 and 1865.
2. What's the holiday's history?
The New York Times warned in 1869 that pomp, feasts, and oratory could make the occasion "sacrilegious" rather than "sacred."
3. HAS MEMORIAL DAY BEEN CONTENTIOUS?
Armistice Day, which honored World War I's end on Nov. 11, 1918, weakened Memorial Day's power, Dennis added. In 1954, Armistice Day became Veterans Day.
4. How has Memorial Day changed?
AAA predicts 2.7 million more people will travel for the unofficial start of summer this weekend than last year, despite inflation.
5. Why does Memorial Day affect sales and travel?