Memorial Day 2025: Is it a holiday in the US? What's open and what's closed?
Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, falls on the last Monday of May. It's a day to honor those who have died serving in the military. It began in the aftermath of the Civil War when people decorated the graves of fallen Union soldiers with flowers.
Over time, it expanded to commemorate all those who died in service to the nation.
This year, Memorial Day is set to be observed on Monday, May 26.
What is Memorial Day?
Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate Union soldiers who died during the Civil War. Over time, the observance expanded to honor all U.S. military personnel who have died in service. The day is marked by various ceremonies, including the National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m.
local time, when Americans are encouraged to pause for one minute to honor the fallen.
American flags are flown at half-staff until noon to show respect.
Communities across the nation host parades, memorial services, and other events to honor fallen service members. Notable events include the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., and the Memorial Day concert at the US Capitol. These gatherings provide an opportunity for reflection and collective remembrance.
Is Memorial Day a holiday in the US?
Memorial Day 2025 is a federal holiday in the United States.
Established as a federal holiday in 1971, Memorial Day serves as both a solemn day of remembrance and the unofficial start of the summer season.
What's open and what's closed on Memorial Day 2025?
What's open?
Retail stores:
Most major retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Kmart, will be open. However, Costco will be closed on Memorial Day.
Restaurants and bars:
Many will operate with regular or holiday hours, though it's advisable to check with local establishments for specific timings.
Gas stations:
Generally open, but some may have reduced hours.
Public transportation:
Service availability varies by city. In major metropolitan areas, transit systems may run on a holiday or weekend schedule.
Airports:
Open, but expect increased travel volume. It's recommended to arrive early for flights due to potential congestion.
What's closed?
Federal government offices:
All non-essential federal offices, including the U.S.
Postal Service, will be closed.
Banks:
Major banks such as Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo, and Chase will close their branches. Online and mobile banking services remain accessible.
Stock markets:
The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will be closed. Trading resumes on Tuesday, May 27.
FedEx and UPS:
Most services are suspended. FedEx Custom Critical and UPS Express Critical services remain operational.
Schools and libraries:
Closed across the country.
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Trump travel ban: Will Iran travel for 2026 FIFA World Cup?
USA, Canada, and Mexico are all set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup together. However, President Donald Trump's latest travel ban has posed questions about whether certain qualified countries will now be allowed to travel to the US and take part. Starting Monday (June 9), citizens of 12 countries will no longer be allowed to get a US visa, according to a recent decision by Trump. Citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen have been banned by Trump and tighter restrictions have been applied to seven other nations (Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela). Trump explained his move by stating in a video, 'The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country, by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas. We don't want them.' As of now, Iran is the only country from the list to have already qualified to compete in the FIFA World Cup next year. Cuba, Sudan, and Haiti are currently in contention to contest. Venezuela is five points off the threshold for automatic qualification but a playoff might just cut the deal. Sierra Leone can still be involved through multiple playoff games while Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, and Libya have very slim chances. Under the current policy, sports teams of qualifying countries should still be able to contest since such a provision have been provided for 'any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the secretary of state.' However, this exception will only continue as long as there is no change to the current ban policy adopted by the US. Iranian fans hoping to catch their national team in the spotlight won't be so lucky however since the policy provides no such exceptions for fans of sporting teams. Getting an American visa had already been tough for Iranians even before the ban was implemented due to tougher vetting procedures. However, considering how those indulging in international travel for sporting events are usually from a higher wealth bracket, such individuals could still try to circumvent the process by using different passport options. The move has stirred a debate about the intersection of politics with global sport. Back in 2017, FIFA President Gianni Infantino had said, "Any team, including the supporters and officials of that team, who qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup." Infantino has since developed close ties with Trump and has re-emphasized that sporting teams of all countries will face no barriers in coming to the US for participation next year. The event is expected to raise a majority of the soccer body's revenue in the 2023-2026 period. Questions have also been raised about the US' legitimacy to hold the upcoming 2028 Olympic Games with such strict travel policies against certain participating countries.
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First Post
4 hours ago
- First Post
How Donald Trump's travel ban on certain countries will impact cricket, football, Olympics & other sports
Donald Trump's new travel ban on 12 countries will impact sports in the US, including tournaments like World Cup and Olympics. Major League Cricket and other international tournaments are also under risk of being affected. Here's how the US travel ban will affect athletes, fans, and upcoming sporting events. read more US President Donald Trump's latest travel ban is already creating confusion and worry in the sports world. With the USA set to host big events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, people are wondering if athletes from banned countries will be allowed to take part. How will the restrictions impact the fans and players already playing in US leagues? What is Trump's travel ban? Donald Trump's new travel ban will block people from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela, from entering the United States. Trump has said the ban has been imposed on countries that 'don't keep things under control,' adding that it's for 'national security.' The ban will come into effect from 9 June, 2025. List of banned countries Afghanistan Myanmar Chad Republic of the Congo Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Haiti Iran Libya Somalia Sudan Yemen Will the travel ban impact athletes? The travel ban on 12 countries will not impact their athletes if they are taking part in a 'major sporting event' in the USA at the moment. The order states that sports players taking part in the Olympics, World Cup, or other 'major sporting events' can still enter the country but only if the US Secretary of State agrees that the event is 'major.' It also says that if someone is already inside the country or already has a valid visa, the ban will not affect them. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Exceptions: (iv) any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State,' a section of the order read. How will the travel ban impact cricket? This rule could affect the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season. There are seven Afghan players currently signed for MLC teams, including stars like Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad. MLC 2025 is set to begin on 12 June, just days after the ban comes into effect. While some Afghan players have already entered the US after getting visas, there are others still waiting for documents to come. According to ESPNcricinfo, MLC officials are hoping for the league to be officially recognised as a 'major sporting event' so that all its players can come. If that doesn't happen in time, then some Afghan players, who are yet to enter the United States, might have to miss out. Olympics and World Cup are safe for now The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2026 FIFA World Cup (co-hosted by USA, Canada, and Mexico) will not be affected by the ban. The order specifically mentions the Olympics and the World Cup in the 'exceptions' section. The US government has already promised the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that athletes will be allowed to enter the country for the 2028 LA Games. What about other sports events? The problem is that the ban doesn't clearly define what is a 'major sporting event.' That might put other sporting tournaments in a grey zone. Also, players from banned countries who are already in the US and travel abroad for matches may face trouble returning. Many athletes from affected countries play in Major League Soccer (MLS), the NBA, and MLB. For instance, there are nine Venezuelan players in MLS. Venezuela is not fully banned but has been partially suspended. If players from Venezuela travel for national duty or personal reasons, they might not be allowed back into the US after the ban begins. What about fans? The travel ban does not allow fans from the banned countries to enter the United States, even if their team is playing in the Olympics or the World Cup.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
What the Trump travel ban means for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games
U.S. President Donald Trump often says the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are among the events he is most excited about in his second term. Yet there is significant uncertainty regarding visa policies for foreign visitors planning trips to the U.S. for the two biggest events in sports. Trump's latest travel ban on citizens from 12 countries added new questions about the impact on the World Cup and the Summer Olympics, which depend on hosts opening their doors to the world. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Direct Shopping From Adidas Franchise to 50% off Adidas Buy Now Undo Here's a look at the potential effects of the travel ban on those events. What is the travel ban policy? When Sunday ticks over to Monday, citizens of 12 countries should be banned from entering the U.S. Live Events They are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Tighter restrictions will apply to visitors from seven more: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Trump said some countries had "deficient" screening and vetting processes or have historically refused to take back their own citizens. How does it affect the World Cup and Olympics? Iran, a soccer power in Asia, is the only targeted country to qualify so far for the World Cup being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico in one year's time. Cuba, Haiti and Sudan are in contention. Sierra Leone might stay involved through multiple playoff games. Burundi, Equatorial Guinea and Libya have very outside shots. But all should be able to send teams to the World Cup if they qualify because the new policy makes exceptions for "any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the secretary of state." About 200 countries could send athletes to the Summer Games, including those targeted by the latest travel restrictions. The exceptions should apply to them as well if the ban is still in place in its current form. What about fans? The travel ban doesn't mention any exceptions for fans from the targeted countries wishing to travel to the U.S. for the World Cup or Olympics. Even before the travel ban, fans of the Iran soccer team living in that country already had issues about getting a visa for a World Cup visit. Still, national team supporters often profile differently to fans of club teams who go abroad for games in international competitions like the UEFA Champions League. For many countries, fans traveling to the World Cup - an expensive travel plan with hiked flight and hotel prices - are often from the diaspora, wealthier, and could have different passport options. A World Cup visitor is broadly higher-spending and lower-risk for host nation security planning. Visitors to an Olympics are often even higher-end clients, though tourism for a Summer Games is significantly less than at a World Cup, with fewer still from most of the 19 countries now targeted. How is the U.S. working with FIFA, Olympic officials? FIFA President Gianni Infantino has publicly built close ties since 2018 to Trump - too close according to some. He has cited the need to ensure FIFA's smooth operations at a tournament that will earn a big majority of the soccer body's expected $13 billion revenue from 2023-26. Infantino sat next to Trump at the White House task force meeting on May 6 which prominently included Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. FIFA's top delegate on the task force is Infantino ally Carlos Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs partner whose two-year run as U.S. Soccer Federation president ended in controversy in 2020. Any visa and security issues FIFA faces - including at the 32-team Club World Cup that kicks off next week in Miami - can help LA Olympics organizers finesse their plans. "It was very clear in the directive that the Olympics require special consideration and I actually want to thank the federal government for recognizing that," LA28 chairman and president Casey Wasserman said Thursday in Los Angeles. "It's very clear that the federal government understands that that's an environment that they will be accommodating and provide for," he said. "We have great confidence that that will only continue. It has been the case to date and it will certainly be the case going forward through the games." In March, at an IOC meeting in Greece, Wasserman said he had two discreet meetings with Trump and noted the State Department has a "fully staffed desk" to help prepare for short-notice visa processing in the summer of 2028 - albeit with a focus on teams rather than fans. IOC member Nicole Hoevertsz, who is chair of the Coordination Commission for LA28, expressed "every confidence" that the U.S. government will cooperate, as it did in hosting previous Olympics. "That is something that we will be definitely looking at and making sure that it is guaranteed as well," she said. "We are very confident that this is going to be accomplished. I'm sure this is going to be executed well." FIFA didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the new Trump travel ban . What have other host nations done? The 2018 World Cup host Russia let fans enter the country with a game ticket doubling as their visa. So did Qatar four years later. Both governments, however, also performed background checks on all visitors coming to the month-long soccer tournaments. Governments have refused entry to unwelcome visitors. For the 2012 London Olympics, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko - who is still its authoritarian leader today - was denied a visa despite also leading its national Olympic body. The IOC also suspended him from the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021.
