Participants walked three miles in the Carry the Load march from Zilker Park to the Capitol on May 20, 2025, to honor fallen military service members and first responders. The non-profit organization Carry The Load was founded in 2011 to restore the true meaning of Memorial Day. Memorial Day, which is observed annually on the last Monday of May, began after the Civil War as Decoration Day, a day to honor those who died in America's wars. In 1968, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act officially moved Memorial Day to be observed on the last Monday in May, making it a three-day weekend. The holiday, which honors U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces, is observed with ceremonies, parades, and moments of remembrance across the country. Memorial Day is different from Veterans Day, which is observed on November 11 and honors all U.S. military veterans, including those who are still living.
news
Memorial Day 2026: Date, history and meaning of the federal holiday
Memorial Day is on May 25 in 2026, honoring military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces.
Published May 25, 2026 at 10:00am by Alexis Simmerman
