Memorial Day refers to the holiday to honor the troops who have sacrificed their lives for the honor of the country. Waterloo in New York is the city, which is called the birthplace of Memorial Day.
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. It was recognized for the first time on May 30 in 1868. The federal government gave its name in 1971.
What’s more? The Uniform Monday Holiday Act is the act that shifted Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday of every May.
These Memorial Day trivia questions will help you learn more about the solemn day and its significance.
Memorial Day Trivia Questions for Kids
Que : What is the primary purpose of Memorial Day in the United States?
Answer : To honor and remember the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. military.
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Que : On what date is Memorial Day observed each year?
Answer : The last Monday in May.
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Que : What was the original name of Memorial Day?
Answer : Decoration Day.
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Que : Which war prompted the creation of Memorial Day to honor fallen soldiers?
Answer : The American Civil War.
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Que : In which year was Memorial Day officially recognized as a federal holiday?
Answer : 1971.
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Que : What is the traditional color worn on Memorial Day to honor fallen soldiers?
Answer : Red poppy.
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Que : Which U.S. President issued a proclamation to observe Memorial Day on May 30, 1868?
Answer : General John A. Logan (President of the Grand Army of the Republic).
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Que : What is the name of the famous Arlington National Cemetery ceremony held on Memorial Day?
Answer : The laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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Que : What is the tradition of “National Moment of Remembrance” on Memorial Day?
Answer : To pause at 3:00 PM local time for a moment of silence.
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Que : Which city is often credited with hosting the first Memorial Day observance?
Answer : Waterloo, New York.
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Que : What is the significance of the flag being flown at half-staff on Memorial Day?
Answer : To honor and remember the fallen soldiers.
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Que : What historical figure’s speech is famously associated with Memorial Day?
Answer : Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
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Que : What is the traditional food commonly associated with Memorial Day?
Answer : Barbecue.
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Que : What is the significance of the red poppy flower for Memorial Day?
Answer : It symbolizes the blood of fallen soldiers and is used to honor their sacrifice.
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Que : What is the name of the organization that organizes the annual Memorial Day parade in Washington, D.C.?
Answer : The National Memorial Day Parade Foundation.
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Que : Which military service’s memorial is specifically honored at the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, Virginia?
Answer : The U.S. Marines.
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Que : What is the name of the Memorial Day event held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial?
Answer : The reading of the names.
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Que : In addition to honoring military personnel, what other groups does Memorial Day also commemorate?
Answer : All American veterans who have served and died.
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Que : What is the common practice of placing flags on graves in cemeteries for Memorial Day?
Answer : To honor and remember those who have died in military service.
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Que : What type of events are commonly held on Memorial Day?
Answer : Parades, memorial services, and patriotic ceremonies.
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Que : What famous battle is often remembered and commemorated on Memorial Day?
Answer : The Battle of Gettysburg.
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Que : Which U.S. President declared Memorial Day a national holiday in 1971?
Answer : President Richard Nixon.
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Que : What is the origin of the tradition of decorating graves with flowers on Memorial Day?
Answer : It started as a way to honor the dead during the Civil War by decorating their graves with flowers.
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Que : What is the name of the annual Memorial Day event that includes a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?
Answer : The National Memorial Day Ceremony.
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Que : What does the “Flag Code” say about the display of the American flag on Memorial Day?
Answer : The flag should be displayed at half-staff from sunrise until noon.
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Que : Which notable American poet wrote about Memorial Day in his poem “In Flanders Fields”?
Answer : John McCrae.
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Que : What other name is sometimes used for Memorial Day in Southern states?
Answer : Confederate Memorial Day.
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Que : Which famous American cemetery, located in Normandy, France, is visited on Memorial Day?
Answer : The Normandy American Cemetery.
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Que : What role does the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs play on Memorial Day?
Answer : Organizes ceremonies and provides support for veterans and their families.
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Que : What is the historical significance of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month?
Answer : It marks the armistice agreement that ended World War I, and it is commemorated on Veterans Day rather than Memorial Day.
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Que : What color ribbon is often associated with Memorial Day?
Answer : Red, white, and blue.
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Que : Which historical figure’s home is famously visited on Memorial Day for its commemoration?
Answer : George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
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Que : What is the purpose of the Memorial Day weekend sales and events in the U.S.?
Answer : To mark the beginning of summer and offer discounts, often alongside remembrance activities.
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Que : What historical event does Memorial Day often commemorate in addition to honoring military personnel?
Answer : The end of the Civil War.
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Que : Which famous American general is known for his role in establishing Memorial Day?
Answer : General John A. Logan.
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Que : What is the traditional activity in many cemeteries across the U.S. on Memorial Day?
Answer : Placing American flags on graves.
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Que : What is the significance of the song “Taps” on Memorial Day?
Answer : It is a bugle call played at military funerals and memorial services.
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Que : Which U.S. military service is recognized for its role in the famous “Iwo Jima” flag-raising photograph?
Answer : The U.S. Marine Corps.
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Que : What type of holiday is Memorial Day classified as?
Answer : A federal holiday.
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Que : What does the phrase “the land of the free because of the brave” refer to on Memorial Day?
Answer : The sacrifice of military personnel who have died in service.
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Que : What is the tradition of “Flags In” that occurs before Memorial Day?
Answer : Placing American flags at the graves of military veterans.
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Que : What city is home to the National World War II Memorial?
Answer : Washington, D.C.
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Que : Which U.S. President is associated with the signing of the National Holiday Act of 1971, which officially moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May?
Answer : President Richard Nixon.
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Que : What is the name of the cemetery located in Washington, D.C., where many prominent American military figures are buried?
Answer : Arlington National Cemetery.
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Que : Which famous American poet’s work is often associated with Memorial Day and the remembrance of fallen soldiers?
Answer : Walt Whitman.
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Que : What annual event in Chicago is one of the largest Memorial Day parades in the U.S.?
Answer : The Chicago Memorial Day Parade.
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Que : What is the term for the three-day weekend that includes Memorial Day?
Answer : The Memorial Day weekend.
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Que : What traditional activity do many American families participate in on Memorial Day weekend, marking the unofficial start of summer?
Answer : Barbecues and picnics.
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Que : Which American monument is dedicated to honoring the sacrifices of soldiers in World War I?
Answer : The Liberty Memorial.
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Que : What important American document is often remembered and referenced during Memorial Day?
Answer : The Declaration of Independence.
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Que : Which U.S. President delivered a speech at Arlington National Cemetery in 1966?
Answer : President Lyndon B. Johnson.
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Que : What does the Memorial Day “Rolling Thunder” event in Washington, D.C. commemorate?
Answer : It honors American prisoners of war (POWs) and those missing in action (MIAs).
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Que : Which American organization is known for its role in organizing Memorial Day services and events?
Answer : The American Legion.
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Que : What special day follows Memorial Day and is celebrated in early June as the official start of summer?
Answer : June 21 (Summer Solstice).
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Que : What is the purpose of the “National Memorial Day Concert” broadcast on PBS?
Answer : To honor and remember America’s military personnel and their sacrifices.
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Que : What historic U.S. military cemetery is located in France and is visited by many American families on Memorial Day?
Answer : The Normandy American Cemetery.
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Que : What traditional food item is often associated with Memorial Day celebrations and is popular at barbecues?
Answer : Hamburgers and hot dogs.
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Que : What is the significance of the “Memorial Day Run” or “Walk” events held across the country?
Answer : To raise funds and awareness for veterans’ causes and support military families.
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Que : What type of ceremony often takes place at military bases and veterans’ organizations on Memorial Day?
Answer : Wreath-laying ceremonies.
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Que : What is the name of the memorial that honors all American veterans of the Vietnam War?
Answer : The Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
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Que : What patriotic symbol is often displayed prominently on Memorial Day?
Answer : The American flag.
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Que : What historical figure’s contributions are often remembered through various Memorial Day events and speeches?
Answer : Abraham Lincoln.
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Que : What is the name of the cemetery in Arlington that holds the graves of the Unknown Soldiers?
Answer : Arlington National Cemetery.
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Que : What is the name of the annual televised event that features performances and tributes for Memorial Day?
Answer : The National Memorial Day Concert.
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Que : What U.S. military branch’s memorial is dedicated to the fallen sailors and Marines of the Civil War?
Answer : The U.S. Navy Memorial.
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Que : What is the traditional color used in American Memorial Day decorations and why?
Answer : Red, white, and blue, representing the American flag and patriotic spirit.
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Que : Which U.S. President is known for having signed the law that officially established Memorial Day as a federal holiday?
Answer : President Lyndon B. Johnson.
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Que : What event marks the beginning of Memorial Day weekend in many American communities?
Answer : The Memorial Day parade.
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Que : What famous American battle is commemorated on Memorial Day for its significant loss of American soldiers?
Answer : The Battle of Gettysburg.
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Que : Which U.S. military cemetery in France is dedicated to American soldiers who fought in World War I?
Answer : The Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.
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Que : What historical period is often associated with the origins of Memorial Day?
Answer : The American Civil War.
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Que : What type of memorial service is commonly held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Memorial Day?
Answer : A wreath-laying ceremony.
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Que : What is the significance of the phrase “All gave some, some gave all” in the context of Memorial Day?
Answer : It honors all veterans who have sacrificed their lives in service to the country.
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Que : What is the name of the large Memorial Day parade that takes place in New York City?
Answer : The New York City Memorial Day Parade.
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Que : Which American city is known for its large Memorial Day events and ceremonies at the National World War II Memorial?
Answer : Washington, D.C.
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Que : What is the name of the public memorial dedicated to U.S. soldiers who died in the Vietnam War?
Answer : The Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall).
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Que : Which U.S. military service holds a memorial at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland?
Answer : The U.S. Navy.
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Que : What traditional activity on Memorial Day often involves visiting cemeteries and memorials?
Answer : Paying respects and placing flowers or flags.
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Que : What American poet wrote a famous poem titled “In Flanders Fields,” often associated with Memorial Day?
Answer : John McCrae.
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Que : What is the traditional color worn on Memorial Day to honor fallen soldiers?
Answer : Red poppy.
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Que : What famous American military leader is often associated with speeches and ceremonies on Memorial Day?
Answer : General Douglas MacArthur.
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Que : Which U.S. military installation is known for holding a significant Memorial Day ceremony each year?
Answer : Arlington National Cemetery.
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Que : What is the name of the cemetery located in Normandy, France, where many American soldiers from World War II are buried?
Answer : The Normandy American Cemetery.
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Que : Which U.S. President issued the first proclamation for Memorial Day as a national day of remembrance?
Answer : President Ulysses S. Grant.
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Que : What tradition involves a moment of silence at 3:00 PM local time on Memorial Day?
Answer : The National Moment of Remembrance.
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Que : What is the name of the public holiday that follows Memorial Day and celebrates the start of summer?
Answer : Labor Day.
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Que : What famous American poet and author served as a Union soldier during the Civil War and later wrote about the experience?
Answer : Walt Whitman.
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Que : What is the purpose of the “Rolling Thunder” motorcycle event held on Memorial Day?
Answer : To raise awareness for POW/MIA issues and honor military veterans.
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Que : What city is home to the National Memorial Day Parade, one of the largest Memorial Day events in the U.S.?
Answer : Washington, D.C.
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Que : What historical event does the Memorial Day weekend often coincide with in terms of marking the beginning of summer?
Answer : The official start of summer.
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Que : Which U.S. military cemetery in Hawaii honors those who served in the Pacific Theater during World War II?
Answer : The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl).
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Que : What traditional Memorial Day event often features performances by military bands and patriotic music?
Answer : Memorial Day concerts.
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Que : What is the term for the special military decorations or honors given to soldiers who have died in service, often featured in Memorial Day services?
Answer : Medals of Honor or military decorations.
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Que : What is the significance of the Memorial Day “flag-folding” ceremony?
Answer : It is a symbolic act that honors each of the branches of the U.S. military and represents the unity of the country.
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Que : What is the name of the annual Memorial Day event that involves a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?
Answer : The National Memorial Day Ceremony.
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Que : What type of public gatherings and events are commonly held to celebrate and remember Memorial Day?
Answer : Parades, memorial services, and community picnics.
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Que : What U.S. President delivered a notable Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery in 1930?
Answer : President Herbert Hoover.
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Que : What is the significance of the American flag being displayed at half-staff on Memorial Day?
Answer : It is a mark of respect and remembrance for those who have died in military service.
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Que : What is the term for the unofficial start of the summer season in the United States, marked by the Memorial Day weekend?
Answer : The beginning of summer.
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Memorial Day is a time to honor and remember the sacrifices of those who served our country.
It reminds us of the importance of reflecting on their contributions and the freedoms we enjoy because of them.
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