What is Memorial Day officially called in the U.S. federal holiday calendar?

The U.S. federal holiday calendar officially calls the holiday Memorial Day.

The name developed from Decoration Day, the 19th-century custom of decorating the graves of Civil War dead. Both names continued in use for many years, but Memorial Day became the standard federal designation as the observance expanded to honor Americans killed in all U.S. wars.

The federal holiday is distinct from Veterans Day. Memorial Day honors service members who died during military service, while Veterans Day honors all people who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, living or dead.

Memorial Day is also different from Armed Forces Day, which recognizes people currently serving in the military. These three observances are often confused because they all relate to the U.S. armed forces.