A day, originally May 30, appointed for commemorating, by decorating their graves with flowers, by patriotic exercises, etc., the dead soldiers and sailors who served the Civil War (1861-65) in the United States; Also called Decoration Day. It is a legal holiday in most of the States. In the Southern States, the Confederate Memorial Day is: May 30 in Virginia; April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in North Carolina and South Carolina; the second Friday in May in Tennessee; June 3 in Louisiana.

A day designated for commemoration of all of the war dead of the United States, clebrated on the last Monday in May in most states. It supersedes the original Memorial Day celebrated May 30th.

May 30th of each year as directed by Grand Army of the Republic Commander-in-Chief John Logan in General Order No. 11. Each brother swears an obligation to always remember this day and pay tribute to the men of the Grand Army of the Republic. Brothers are also encouraged to participate in the Congressionally-mandated celebration of Memorial Day until this injustice can be corrected.