# Memorial Day – Veterans’ Day

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorial-day-veterans-day/247561>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 28, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorial-day-veterans-day/247561 "2004-05-28T19:40:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorial-day-veterans-day/247561/1 "2004-05-28T19:40:56Z")

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Memorial Day started out as Decoration Day, a time to decorate graves of Civil War soldiers. Veterans’ Day started out as Armistice Day, a time to remember the end of World War I.

It seems to me they have both changed into pretty much the same thing, a time to remember those who have served in the US armed forces. Perhaps Memorial Day has a bit more emphasis on those who have died, but it pretty much comes down to the same sort of remembrance in both cases.

Is there any “official” distinction between these two holidays (beyond the dates)?

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**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorial-day-veterans-day/247561/2 "2004-05-28T21:48:43Z")

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Official? Don’t know. I’ve always associated one with remembering the sacrifices of the dead and the other in honoring the sacrifices of those still living.

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**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorial-day-veterans-day/247561/3 "2004-05-28T21:52:51Z")

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[Found it](http://www1.va.gov/vetsday/page.cfm?pg=11)

> [@](#):
>
> Q. What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?
> 
> A. Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.
> 
> While those who died are also remembered on Veterans Day, Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty. A complete history of Veterans Day, and why it is observed on November 11, can be found on our Veterans Day History Web page.

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorial-day-veterans-day/247561/4 "2004-05-28T21:57:17Z")

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**ArchiveGuy** has it.

Memorial Day - We remember/honor those who defended our freedoms, but died protecting those freedoms.

Veteran’s Day - We remember/honor those who defended our freedoms, but are still alive so we can thank them face to face.

In either case, let’s nor forget [http://remember.gov/](http://remember.gov/) for Memorial Day.