Memorial Day weekend is here, and while this year’s holiday will likely look different because of the Coronavirus pandemic, Memorial Day is still a very important commemoration.But how many people really know why we celebrate Memorial Day in the first place?
Well, a new poll by University of Phoenix finds a lot of Americans are clueless to the fact that it’s a holiday to honor military members who gave their life serving in the armed forces. In fact...
- Only 43% of Americans know that’s the true reason for Memorial Day.
- 28% of Americans look at Memorial Day like Veteran’s Day, a day where we honor all military veterans, not just the ones who lost their lives serving our country.
- What’s more, 36% of people admit they are unsure of the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day.
- Only 46% of Americans know Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May.
- 21% thought it fell on the last Sunday of May.
- Regardless of whether folks know the true meaning of Memorial Day, 83% of people believe it’s important to do something to commemorate the day.
- Among the ways Americans plan to celebrate this year:
- Fly a flag (43%)
- Leave a flag or flowers on the grave of someone who died serving in the U.S. Armed Forces (30%)
- Attend a local ceremony or patriotic event (30%)
- Fly a flag at half-mast (29%)
- Visit a military monument or war memorial monument (27%)
- Educate my children about the meaning of Memorial Day (25%)
- Wear a Memorial Day button (24%)
- Aid a family who lost someone serving in the U.S. Armed Forces (22%)
- Educate myself about the meaning of Memorial Day (22%)