Besides being associated with car sales and mattress sales, oh, and sometimes white sales of sheets and bedding, Memorial Day is a very serious holiday. Let’s see if you know the answers to these Memorial Day trivia questions.
Memorial Day Trivia Questions
- 1. What is Memorial Day originally known as?
- 2. When was the first large observance of what would come to be known as Memorial Day?
- 3. What war prompted the establishment of Memorial Day?
- 4. In what year was Memorial Day officially declared a federal holiday?
- 5. Why is the red poppy a symbol of Memorial Day?
- 6. What is the traditional time for a moment of remembrance on Memorial Day?
- 7. In which town was the first state-sponsored Memorial Day event held in 1866?
- 8. What’s the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?
- 9. Why is Memorial Day often associated with the unofficial start of summer?
- 10. What is the significance of the National Moment of Remembrance Act?
- 11. What is traditionally played by buglers during Memorial Day ceremonies?
- 12. Which U.S. President issued the proclamation calling for a “Decoration Day” to be observed annually?
- 13. What major sports event is traditionally held on Memorial Day weekend?
- 14. What is the significance of flags being flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day?
- 15. Which organization played a key role in establishing the red poppy as a symbol of Memorial Day?
Memorial Day Trivia 15 Questions and Answers
- 1. What is Memorial Day originally known as? Decoration Day
- 2. When was the first large observance of what would come to be known as Memorial Day? On May 30, 1868
- 3. What war prompted the establishment of Memorial Day? The American Civil War
- 4. In what year was Memorial Day officially declared a federal holiday? In 1971
- 5. Why is the red poppy a symbol of Memorial Day? The red poppy came to symbolize the blood shed by those who fought and those who continue to fight for our country following a World War I poem, “In Flanders Fields,” written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae.
- 6. What is the traditional time for a moment of remembrance on Memorial Day? 3:00 PM local time
- 7. In which town was the first state-sponsored Memorial Day event held in 1866? Waterloo, New York
- 8. What’s the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day? Memorial Day honors military personnel who died in service, while Veterans Day celebrates all U.S. military veterans
- 9. Why is Memorial Day often associated with the unofficial start of summer? Because it is traditionally celebrated at the end of May, when weather is becoming summer-like in many parts of the United States.
- 10. What is the significance of the National Moment of Remembrance Act? It encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.
- 11. What is traditionally played by buglers during Memorial Day ceremonies? “Taps,” a musical piece traditionally played at military funerals and ceremonies.
- 12. Which U.S. President issued the proclamation calling for a “Decoration Day” to be observed annually? President Ulysses S. Grant
- 13. What major sports event is traditionally held on Memorial Day weekend? The Indianapolis 500 auto race
- 14. What is the significance of flags being flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day? This is done to honor the over one million men and women who have given their lives in service of their country.
- 15. Which organization played a key role in establishing the red poppy as a symbol of Memorial Day? The American Legion Auxiliary
So how well did you do answering the Memorial Day trivia questions? I have to confess that when I started to write this quiz, I might have only known three or four answers, so I am glad to have learned something. I remember my Grandfather giving out poppies in front of the grocery store in the 1960s, but I never knew what it meant. Now, I do.
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