Memorial Day 2024 in the United States

Yes. Memorial Day is one of the eleven legal public holidays set out in 5 U.S.C. § 6103. Federal offices close, federal employees receive the day off with pay, and every state observes it.

It is a day of mourning for members of the armed forces who died in service. This distinguishes it from Veterans Day in November, which honors all who have served, living and dead.

Memorial Day always falls on the last Monday in May, so its calendar date shifts each year between May 25 and May 31.

It is the only federal holiday defined by a “last weekday” rule rather than an ordinal one. In years where May contains five Mondays the holiday lands a week later than in years with four, which is why it can appear to skip a week between consecutive years.

The observance began as Decoration Day after the Civil War, when communities decorated the graves of the dead. General John A. Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, called for a national observance on May 30, 1868.

Congress moved the holiday from the fixed date of May 30 to the last Monday in May under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, effective in 1971, and adopted “Memorial Day” as the legal name at the same time.

The National Moment of Remembrance Act of 2000 asks Americans to pause for one minute at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. It is an observance, not a legal requirement.

Flags are flown at half-staff until noon and then raised to full staff for the remainder of the day, a protocol unique to this holiday.