Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades.
The remembrance poppy was inspired by the World War I poem "In Flanders Fields". Its opening lines refer to the many poppies that were the first flowers to grow in the churned-up earth of soldiers
' graves in Flanders, a region of Europe that overlies a part of Belgium.
Despite the increasing celebration of the holiday as a summer rite of passage, there are some formal rituals still on the books: The American flag should be hung at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day, then raised to the top of the staff. And since 2000, when the U.S. Congress passed legislation, all Americans are encouraged to pause for a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time, by saying goodbye to spring and hello to summer as we remember those who died serving for our country.
Recipe: Individual Seven Layer Dips!
Seven layer dip is a party favorite. But after a few people have dipped (hopefully not double-dipped), it starts to look like mush. All the pretty layers turn into an unidentifiable, unappetizing pile. Solution? Individual seven layer dips! To class these up, try
making them in glass tumblers.
In a small bowl mix taco seasoning with refried beans. Some people prefer to mix their taco seasoning with the sour cream layer but I wanted a bright white layer so I did it with the beans.