Today is Memorial Day in the United States, so here's a quiz about the history and significance of the holiday. Each question is followed by four multiple-choice options. Answers and explanations are at the end!
1 What was the original name for Memorial Day?
A) Remembrance Day
B) Decoration Day
C) Heroes' Day
D) Veterans Day
2 Which war's fallen soldiers were originally honored on the first Memorial Day?
A) Revolutionary War
B) Civil War
C) World War I
D) World War II
3 In which year was Memorial Day officially declared a national holiday by Congress?
A) 1868
B) 1918
C) 1938
D) 1971
4 Which flower is traditionally worn to honor and remember those who have died in military service?
A) Rose
B) Tulip
C) Poppy
D) Daisy
5 Memorial Day is observed on which day of the week?
A) Friday
B) Saturday
C) Sunday
D) Monday
6 Which event is often associated with Memorial Day celebrations?
A) Lighting candles
B) Parades
C) Fireworks
D) Harvest festivals
7 The tradition of wearing red poppies on Memorial Day originated from which war's battlefields?
A) Civil War
B) World War I
C) Korean War
D) Vietnam War
8 What is the National Moment of Remembrance?
A) A one-minute moment of silence
B) A fireworks display
C) A speech by the President
D) A national parade
9 Which organization was founded in 1868 to help commemorate Memorial Day?
A) American Legion
B) Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
C) Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)
D) Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
10 Where is the oldest continuously running Memorial Day parade in the United States held?
A) Washington, D.C.
B) New York City, New York
C) Doylestown, Pennsylvania
D) Ironton, Ohio
Memorial Day Quiz Answers with Explanations
1 What was the original name for Memorial Day?
B) Decoration Day
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves with flowers.
2 Which war's fallen soldiers were originally honored on the first Memorial Day?
B) Civil War
The first Memorial Day was held to honor the soldiers who died during the American Civil War, which had the highest number of American military deaths of any conflict up to that time.
3 In which year was Memorial Day officially declared a national holiday by Congress?
D) 1971
While Memorial Day was observed in various forms before, it was officially recognized as a national holiday by Congress in 1971 and set to be observed on the last Monday of May each year.
4 Which flower is traditionally worn to honor and remember those who have died in military service?
C) Poppy
The red poppy became a symbol of remembrance due to the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae, which describes poppies growing amidst the graves of soldiers in World War I.
5 Memorial Day is observed on which day of the week?
D) Monday
Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May each year. This was established to create a three-day weekend for federal employees, known as the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, passed in 1968.
6 Which event is often associated with Memorial Day celebrations?
B) Parades
Memorial Day parades are a common tradition across the United States. These parades often feature military personnel, veterans, and various community groups, serving as a tribute to those who have died in service.
7 The tradition of wearing red poppies on Memorial Day originated from which war's battlefields?
B) World War I
The practice of wearing red poppies to honor fallen soldiers originated from the battlefields of World War I, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields."
8 What is the National Moment of Remembrance?
A) A one-minute moment of silence
The National Moment of Remembrance asks Americans to pause for one minute at 3:00 PM local time on Memorial Day to remember and honor those who have died in military service.
9 Which organization was founded in 1868 to help commemorate Memorial Day?
C) Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)
The Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization composed of Union veterans from the Civil War, was instrumental in establishing Memorial Day as a time to honor fallen soldiers.
10 Where is the oldest continuously running Memorial Day parade in the United States held?
D) Ironton, Ohio
Ironton, Ohio hosts the oldest continuously running Memorial Day parade in the nation, a tradition that dates back to 1868.
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