Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It was originally known as Decoration Day and started after the Civil War as a day to place flowers and flags on the graves of the Union and Confederate dead . The holiday offers a chance to reflect on the countless individuals who served and lost their lives and to come together with the families and communities left behind .
The holiday is observed on the last Monday of May . It was believed to be chosen because flowers would be in full bloom to decorate graves .
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