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USA Today
26-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
Memorial Day 2025: What is the holiday honoring fallen soldiers? When is it?
Memorial Day 2025: What is the holiday honoring fallen soldiers? When is it? Show Caption Hide Caption Memorial Day 2025: Wreaths laid at memorial in East Lansing Service members place wreaths at the Medal of Honor Memorial and Veterans Monument during a Memorial Day ceremony on May 21, 2025, in East Lansing. Americans are set to mark Memorial Day, the fifth of 12 federal holidays on the calendar. The holiday honors those who died as a result of battle while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It has also served a part of the country's "civil religion," according to scholar Robert N. Bellah. "The Memorial Day observance, especially in the towns and smaller cities of America, is a major event for the whole community involving a rededication to the martyred dead, to the spirit of sacrifice, and to the American vision," Bella wrote in his 1967 article "Civil Religion in America." Memorial Day is also colloquially considered the start of summer and is a major travel weekend. Here's what you need to know about Memorial Day. When is Memorial Day 2025? Memorial Day will be observed on Monday, May 26, 2025. The holiday was made a federal holiday observed on the last Monday in May by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968. When was the first Memorial Day? The first Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868. The holiday was originally dedicated to the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War by the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans led by Major General John A. Logan – according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The opening of the order that created the holiday established it "for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land." Earlier accounts point to people decorating Union graves for Memorial Day in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania in October 1864 and a tribute at the "Martyrs of the Race Course" cemetery on May 1, 1865, according to the VA. The latter occurred when Black freedmen and White "Northern abolitionist allies" honored the 257 Union soldiers buried at the Charleston, South Carolina graveyard. How is Memorial Day different than Veteran's Day? Though Memorial Day and Veteran's Day both honor members of the military, they are differentiated by who they honor. Memorial Day honors those who have died in uniform as a result of battle while Veteran's Day honors all who have served in the nation's armed forces, with the latter holiday particularly focused on living veterans – according to the VA. Memorial Day is the second of three holidays honoring those connected to the military, following Armed Forces Day.
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Is Starbucks open on Memorial Day 2025?
As we get close to the middle of the year, we start to feel tired and long for holidays that allow us to spend more relaxing and celebratory time with family. And when a holiday falls perfectly after a weekend, creating a three-day break, that's even better. Memorial Day, which is celebrated on the last Monday in May, fits perfectly into the picture. But did you know that wasn't always the case? Related: Stock market holidays & half days 2025: A complete list Back in 1868, General John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the GAR, called on former soldiers and their communities to decorate the graves of their fallen comrades. Logan called for Decoration Day to occur on May 30, because it was not the anniversary of any particular battle. When the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed in 1968, Memorial Day was established as a federal holiday on the last Monday of May, so that it could be a three-day weekend, avoiding midweek disruptions to industrial and commercial activity. Speaking of closures, considering that it is a federal holiday, government offices, schools, motor vehicle agencies, banks, and stock exchanges are closed. As for supermarkets, grocery stores, and pharmacies, some remain open but reduce hours, while others close. What about the place where we get the best coffee? Is Starbucks (SBUX) open on Memorial Day? If you're planning to start Memorial Day with your usual Starbucks coffee, you should be aware of its store hours. The renowned coffee chain does not have fixed operating hours for all locations, so if you are traveling for the holiday, be sure to check the hours for your specific location. More Retail: Costco puts famous New York City brand on shelvesVuori's secret recipe to take down LululemonTrader Joe's makes big Costco-style bet in growing market Some stores open as early as 5 a.m., while others don't start until 7 a.m. Closing times also vary, with some shutting by 8 p.m. and others staying open much later. There are Starbucks locations in busy spots like airports, shopping malls, and hospitals that are open 24/7. Starbucks typically operates on regular hours during Memorial Day. To make sure that the Starbucks you are planning to visit on Memorial Day is open, it is always better to check up front. Here's how: Use the Starbucks store locator on its official website. Check Google Maps. Check Starbucks Mobile App. Call the store directly. Related: Starbucks CEO sounds the alarm on the wrong problem The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
When is Memorial Day 2025? What to know about the holiday, its Reconstruction Era origins
Summer is edging closer, which means another major American holiday is coming up. Here's what you need to know about when Memorial Day is this year, why it's celebrated and how it got its start. This year, Memorial Day in the United States falls on May 26, 2025. The holiday is always celebrated on the last Monday in May, after Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968. Memorial Day is a day to honor those who have died while in military service for the United States. The holiday is not to be confused with Veterans Day, Nov. 11, which honors the service of all military veterans. Memorial Day was started in 1868 by John A. Logan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a patriotic organization of American Civil War veterans who served in the Union forces. Logan chose May 30, 1868, to decorate the graves of fallen Union soldiers, according to the National Archives. Known then as Decoration Day, the day eventually came to include those who had died in all US wars, according to Cities often hold Memorial Day parades, and families decorate the graves of fallen soldiers, to honor the occasion. The holiday has also become the unofficial marker of the start of summer, with many families taking advantage of the long weekend by taking trips, and water parks often open on Memorial Day weekend. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: When is Memorial Day 2025? What to know about the holiday, its origins
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The history of President's Day
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — It's easy to forget about the distant past unless we have something to remind us of it. Now, we have a day to reflect, President's Day. President's Day originated from the birth of a man who changed the world forever and founded the home of the free, the USA. George Washington was born on Feb. 22, 1732. By late 1799, Washington succumbed to a severe throat infection at the age of 67. His last words were 'Tis well.' In honor of him, his birthday began to be celebrated unofficially that same year. On Feb. 22, 1837, a cheddar cheese block weighing 1,400 pounds was wheeled into the White House, where citizens were invited in to feast with the president and talk about current issues. By 1879, Washington's Birthday was celebrated nationally as a federal holiday. Almost 100 years later, in 1968, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act organized several federal holidays onto the closest Monday so workers would have a longer weekend. Around the same time, businesses started campaigning sales using the slogan 'President's Day,' instead of Washington's birthday, which Congress had officially called the holiday. Abraham Lincoln's birthday, Feb. 12, is now also celebrated with Washington's after the change to a Monday between the two. Since Washington, 46 presidents and a quarter millennium have passed, and technology has shaped the world into something the founding fathers couldn't have dreamt of. But within all that change, holidays like Washington's birthday are set to remind us of our roots and what it took for the birth of America. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion: Donald Trump doesn't deserve to be celebrated on Presidents' Day
As a child, I was obsessed with presidents. When I was 6, my parents would summon me downstairs with the adults they were entertaining and have me rattle off all the presidents, in order and including their middle initials. I was proud to show off my knowledge of the presidents. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. Sensing the admiration I had for the presidency, my great-grandmother gave me her yellowed scrapbook of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was a long-time Democratic delegate, attending conventions, so she had buttons and flyers, and newspaper articles about FDR. When her mother, my great-great grandmother, turned 100, I was given the letter she received from President Richard M. Nixon. As a child, I would tell people I was going to be president of the United States. Well, that didn't happen, although I ended up working on Capitol Hill and did meet a couple of presidents along the way. Today, for many of us, a somber reflection is settling over the nation. Historically, this day, Presidents' Day, has been a time to honor the legacies of our presidents, celebrating their contributions to the enduring principles of American democracy. Yet this year, the observance feels markedly different, casting a shadow over the traditions we once held dear. And that ominous shadow is Donald Trump, who is anything but a 'president.' With his autocratic bent, today's holiday no longer stands as a tribute to the leaders who have shaped the country but instead serves as a stark reminder of what we have lost. Last year, when the United States still had a law-abiding, decent leader in President Joe Biden, we unknowingly celebrated our last true Presidents' Day. Now, under the rule of Trump, we look upon the holiday not with reverence but with mourning. Established in 1885, Presidents' Day was originally designated to commemorate the birthday of George Washington, the nation's first president. Celebrated on February 22, Washington's actual birth date, it was the first federal holiday to honor an individual American. In 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act shifted the observance to the third Monday in February, a move intended to provide workers with more three-day weekends. This change also broadened the holiday's significance, leading many to use it as an occasion to honor all U.S. presidents and their contributions to the country. Presidents' Day has served as a reminder of the indelible marks left by our nation's leaders. It was a moment to reflect on those who upheld democracy, safeguarded freedoms, and strengthened the republic. Washington, revered as the 'Father of Our Country,' set enduring precedents for the presidency through his commitment to republican ideals and his voluntary relinquishment of power. Then there's Abraham Lincoln, who guided the nation through the Civil War, abolishing slavery and redefining the nation's moral compass. His legacy is immortalized in the Lincoln Memorial, a symbol of unity and freedom. My great-grandmother loved Roosevelt. He was one of our greatest presidents — she always said the greatest. He led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II, expanding the role of the federal government to protect the welfare of its people. His leadership left an imprint so significant that his memorial in Washington, D.C. ,stands as a tribute to his contributions. One Republican in the House recently introduced a bill to add Trump's face to Mount Rushmore. Trump wants his face on it. Mount Rushmore itself, a controversial monument to Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Lincoln, represents the principles on which the nation was built to many. These presidents cemented America's place as a beacon of democracy. But today, Presidents' Day feels hollow. Since his inauguration on January 20, Trump has wasted no time in dismantling the pillars of democracy. The erosion of democratic norms has been swift and brutal. He has suggested outlawing political dissent and called for revoking the licenses of media outlets critical of his administration, undermining the foundational principle of free speech. He has undertaken mass firings of federal employees, including about 17 independent inspectors general, removing critical watchdogs meant to uphold accountability in government. The firings have centralized power in a way that dangerously tips the balance away from the checks and balances that once defined American governance. In addition to decimating institutional safeguards, Trump has targeted vulnerable communities with a vengeance. His administration has effectively erased protections for transgender Americans, stripping away rights and recognition, leaving them more vulnerable than ever. He has openly criticized judges and called for their removal when rulings do not align with his agenda, threatening the independence of the judiciary. His attacks on the courts have only emboldened those who see the legal system as an obstacle to raw, unchecked power. Every move he has made in his short time back in office has been another step toward consolidating control, dismantling democracy, and reshaping America into something unrecognizable. Then there is Trump. He is a monster. He's inherently selfish. He bullies. He threatens. He's hell-bent on revenge. He's corrupt. He's a criminal. He's been impeached twice. He's the antithesis of great. He thinks he belongs on Mount Rushmore… I find myself today thinking of all the impressionable 6-year-old kids, who, like me, were fascinated by the presidency. Yes, I came of age with Richard Nixon, so my real-world example at the time was less than stellar. But kids today? God help them. Let's put it this way, only a deranged, bigoted, obtuse selfish fool would keep a scrapbook on Trump. And so here we are, observing Presidents' Day this year. I do so with a profound sense of loss. My heart has always ached because somewhere along the way, I lost my great-grandmother's FDR scrapbook. I would give anything to be able to leaf through those pages today. What was once a celebration of great leaders and their democratic legacies has now become a cold reminder of what could have been. Instead of electing Kamala Harris, a leader who would have upheld the values of the presidency, America chose a dictator. Things would be normal under a President Harris. We'd actually be celebrating today. The holiday that once honored the champions of democracy is now an eerie echo of the past, a painful relic of a nation that once valued its leaders for their service to the people rather than their service to themselves. Presidents' Day will no longer be a day of tribute but a day of mourning, marking the moment when America turned away from its founding ideals and into the grip of authoritarianism. Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit to learn more about submission guidelines. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.
