Memorial Day
Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars, including World War II, The Vietnam War, The Korean War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although many people celebrate all veterans on both holidays, Memorial Day is distinct from Veterans Day in that it is specifically meant to honor those who died while serving, while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans.