The library will be closed Monday, May 28th.
Yesterday we had the reference question "Memorial Day wasn't always on Monday, was it? What was the day?" The answer is May 30th in most states. In '68 Congress passed a Uniform Holidays Bill directing that, beginning in 1971, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Columbus Day, and Washington's Birthday all be moved from fixed dates to Mondays. With Veteran's Day the change did not stick - most states continue to commemorate the day on the actual date of the armistice. (And many think the traditional date for Memorial Day should be restored.)
The first Memorial Day? Possibly in South Carolina in 1865, created by liberated slaves and union soldiers. It has been observed annually in towns all over the Union states since about 1866.
National Moment of Remembrance A moment of private thanks. 3 PM on Memorial Day.
Note: Maryland, though a slave state and south of the Mason-Dixon line, did not rebel, but instead stayed with the Union. So a Confederate Memorial Day is not celebrated here.
Posted by library at May 24, 2007 10:32 AM