# Memorial Day...why last Monday in May???

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorial-day-why-last-monday-in-may/66881>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 29, 2001, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorial-day-why-last-monday-in-may/66881 "2001-05-29T13:11:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rufus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Rufus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2001, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorial-day-why-last-monday-in-may/66881/1 "2001-05-29T13:11:24Z")

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My fiance and I have been watching all the specials on TV commemerating the Memorial Day holiday. During a commercial break, we began to wonder…Why is Memorial Day the last Monday in May???

Is Memorial Day the last week in May just so we can fire up the BBQ’s and celebrate the so-called beginning of summer? IIRC Veterans Day is centered around Armistice Day…So whats the deal with Memorial Day???

Rufus

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**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2001, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorial-day-why-last-monday-in-may/66881/2 "2001-05-29T15:36:35Z")

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Er… Check out [this](http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/memorial/history.html) for all the facts.

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**Author:** ![Rufus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Rufus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2001, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorial-day-why-last-monday-in-may/66881/3 "2001-05-29T19:21:23Z")

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thanks for the informative website