President Bill Clinton signed the 2000 law establishing the National Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day.
The law created a national observance asking Americans to pause for one minute at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. Congress designed the moment to encourage a shared act of remembrance while preserving the holiday’s focus on military members who died in service.
The National Moment of Remembrance was proposed by Carmella LaSPADA, who worked to develop a nationwide tribute that could take place wherever people were. The observance can include a moment of silence, listening to Taps, or another respectful act.
The 3 p.m. moment is separate from the display rules for the U.S. flag and from formal ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery. It is a nationwide remembrance practice rather than a single event at one location.