Patriot Realm

Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, is a time for Americans to honour the men and women who have died in military service to the United States. This day is marked by ceremonies, parades, and tributes, reflecting the nation's respect and gratitude for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 

Much like our ANZAC Day, it is a day to genuinely honour those who fought and perished to defend our right to freedom. 

Memorial Day in the United States and ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand are both national days dedicated to remembering and honouring military personnel who have served and sacrificed for their countries. While these special days share a common purpose, they differ in their origins, customs, and modern significance. Comparing these two observances provides a way to look into how different nations honour their fallen heroes and reflect on their military histories.

This post explores the history in both and how they are the same yet different.

Memorial Day's origins date back to the aftermath of the American Civil War, a conflict that claimed the lives of over 620,000 soldiers. The sheer scale of loss prompted communities across the country to honour the fallen. The earliest recorded instances of what would become Memorial Day occurred in various locations independently, often called "Decoration Day," where people decorated the graves of Civil War soldiers with flowers.

One notable early observance was in Charleston, South Carolina, on May 1, 1865, when formerly enslaved people and Union troops gathered to honour Union soldiers who had died in captivity. This event included a parade and the decoration of graves, symbolising the broader national effort to acknowledge the cost of the Civil War and the value of freedom.

In 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of an organisation for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance on May 30. Known as Decoration Day, this date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of any particular battle. On that first national observance, people decorated the graves of over 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

Over the years, Decoration Day evolved to include honour those who died in all American wars, not just the Civil War. After World War I, the commemoration expanded to recognise the fallen from subsequent conflicts, reflecting the nation's growing military engagements.

The name "Memorial Day" gradually became more common, and in 1967, it was officially declared the official name by federal law. A significant shift occurred with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, which moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May to create a three-day weekend for federal employees, a change that took effect in 1971. This move aimed to encourage travel and family gatherings, thus promoting a broader observance of the day.

Unlike other patriotic holidays, Memorial Day doesn’t celebrate victory or freedom gained.... it honours the price paid for those freedoms. It's a time when a whole nation pauses, not to cheer, but to remember.

You see it in the rows of flags fluttering in cemeteries. You feel it in the silence that follows the bugle’s Last Post. Whether someone knew a fallen soldier personally or not, the day invites every citizen to step into the shared weight of loss -  and give thanks.

Memorial Day isn’t only about the dead. It’s about reminding the living that freedom isn't abstract. It's fragile, costly, and paid for in blood.It prompts people to reflect. 

Memorial Day is special because it unites remembrance with resolve. It teaches that freedom isn’t free, that gratitude must be active, and that a nation's soul is measured not by what it claims, but by who it remembers.

So what about our ANZAC Day? How do we honour our fallen on our chosen day? 

ANZAC Day, observed on April 25, commemorates the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) at Gallipoli, Turkey, during World War I in 1915. This event marked the first major military action by these forces during the war. 

ANZAC Day originally focused on honouring those who fought at Gallipoli but soon expanded to commemorate all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The day has grown to become a key moment of national reflection and identity for both countries.

There are some similarities between both important days of tribute to our fallen. 

Memorial Day:

• Ceremonies: Memorial Day is marked by ceremonies at cemeteries and memorials, including the decoration of graves with flowers and American flags. The National Memorial Day Concert and the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery are key events.
• Parades: Many towns and cities hold parades featuring military personnel, veterans, and local organisations.
• Personal Remembrance: Families often visit cemeteries to honour loved ones who served. 

ANZAC Day:

• Dawn Services: The day begins with dawn services held at war memorials across Australia and New Zealand, reflecting the time of the Gallipoli landings. These solemn ceremonies include the Last Post, moments of silence, and the recitation of the Ode of Remembrance. 

• Parades: Following the dawn services, ANZAC Day marches take place in cities and towns, involving veterans, military personnel, and descendants of veterans.
• Commemorations: Wreath-laying ceremonies, church services, and the playing of traditional songs and hymns, such as "Abide with Me" and the national anthems, are integral parts of the day.
• Two-Up: In Australia, playing the traditional gambling game "two-up" is a common activity, legally permitted only on ANZAC Day, symbolising the camaraderie and spirit of the original ANZACs.

In the end, whether it's ANZAC Day at dawn or Memorial Day beneath a noonday sun, what binds us across oceans and flags is not just ceremony...it’s reverence. It matters not what country you hail from, what uniform your loved one wore, or what soil their story ended on. What matters is the shared human instinct to honour courage, mourn sacrifice, and carry forward the freedoms they secured.

This harmony of remembrance,  expressed in silence, song, parades, and prayers, transcends borders. It is a quiet, unspoken bond between nations who understand that the peace we enjoy was paid for dearly. The honour we afford our soldiers, past and present, is not merely tradition. It is the lynchpin of our identity, our unity, and our shared humanity.

Let the bugles sound, the wreaths be laid, and the flags fly high. Let children laugh freely under skies once clouded by war. And let every country remember: in the space between grief and gratitude, we find something sacred - something that keeps the heart of a nation beating strong.

Long may we remember. Long may we stand together.