Photos: Flags on the graves of veterans

In anticipation of Memorial Day this coming weekend, the Schiel family placed American flags on veterans’ graves, something they’ve been doing annually since 1994.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday set aside for honoring and mourning the US military members who have died while serving. The first national observance of Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868, and at the time was called “Decoration Day.”

In 1871, Michigan made Decoration Day an official state holiday and by 1890, every northern state had followed suit. In 1971, Congress standardized the holiday name as “Memorial Day” and changed its observance from May 30 to the last Monday in May.

Manchester will observe Memorial Day with a brief ceremony at Oak Grove Cemetery at 11am on Monday, May 29.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.