Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a holiday celebrated in the United States to remember all those who have died in service in the armed forces. It is supposed to be a day to remember all the men and woman who have died in service and is not the same thing as Veterans Day which is about honoring living veterans. It is celebrated ion the last Monday of May ever year and it was declared an official holiday by Congress in 1971. Ways people usually celebrate is by visiting the graves of people who have died in service, displaying the American Flag, and wearing rod poppies which has become a traditional flower that shows support. On interesting thing is that people don’t agree on where memorial day celebrations originated from but although some say it started in the North after Lincolns assassination most say it was during the civil w3ar where both sides wanted to honor their dead. 

                             Presidents Day

Presidents Day was started on February 1885 and was officially called Washington’s birthday. It started out as recognition for George Washington and has since become a day to honor all presidents. There are still states that celebrate Washington’s birthday, Lincoln’s birthday, and others but the nationwide holiday (officially called Washington’s Birthday) is known by many as presidents day. The holiday started after the death of George Washington to honor him and then later the Washington Monument. It was unofficially a holiday until a measure was signed by President Rutherford B. Hayes. Then President Nixon moved the date and people thought that the holiday was intended to honor Lincoln and Washington and marketers used it to celebrate a three day weekend of sales called Presidents Day. President’s day is celebrated around the country with reenactments, patriotic remembrance, and celebration. 

Veterens Day

History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day was officially recognized when U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. It later became referred to and known as veterans day and is a national holiday in the United States. It is a celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Reflection: I think that veterans day is important because it reminds us that all our freedoms and opportunities are not free and are protected by men and women in uniform. The day helps us remember that the people who fight for our freedoms risk there lives for us and deserve to be remembered and respected. The day started as a way to make a official date (it was celebrated on different days by everyone) and that it is great to have a holiday for veterans but I think that people should remember and respect veterans everyday for fighting for freedom. 

Columbus Day

 Christopher Columbus was born October 30, 1451 and died May 20, 1506. He was a Genoese explorer and navigator born in the Republic of Genoa which is now Italy. Funded by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. His efforts to establish permanent settlements on the island of Hispaniola started the Spanish colonization of the Americas. On October 13, 1492 he landed in the Caribbean becoming the first European to do so. Since then people in the United States have been celebrating it and Columbus Day first became an official state holiday in Colorado in 1906, and became a federal holiday in the United States in 1937.

Reflection: I think that Christopher Columbus had a very lasting impact on the United States and other countries on the Americas. I think that Columbus also must have been a good sailor to get to a new continent on uncharted waters using the simple technology they had.