Before the Monday holiday rule, Memorial Day was observed on May 30 in the United States.
The fixed date developed from the original Decoration Day observances that followed the American Civil War. General John A. Logan’s 1868 order called for May 30 as a day for decorating the graves of Union war dead. The date was not chosen because it marked a particular battle or anniversary; it was selected as a suitable day when flowers would generally be available.
Memorial Day remained on May 30 for more than a century. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved several federal holidays to Mondays, and Memorial Day began being observed on the last Monday in May nationwide in 1971. This change created a three-day weekend but separated the holiday from its historic fixed date.
Memorial Day is sometimes confused with Veterans Day. Memorial Day honors military personnel who died in service, while Veterans Day honors all U.S. military veterans.