Memorial Day Trivia

Choose an answer from the three choices and True or False offered after each question and then "Check Your Answers" at the end of the quiz.

1. What day in May is Memorial Day Celebrated?

• First Tuesday in May
• Last Monday in May
• Last Thursday in May

2. What was formerly Memorial called?

• Veterans Day
• Decoration Day
• Confederate Memorial Day

3. What year (many experts believe) was the first memorial day observed ?

• 1864
• 1865
• 1866

4. Where was the first “official” Memorial Day observed?

• Charleston, South Carolina
• Washington, DC
• Waterloo, New York

5. On May 5, 1868, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a veterans' organization, he issued a proclamation that "Decoration Day" be observed nationwide. Who was the former general?

• Ulysses S. Grant
• William T. Sherman
• John A. Logan

6. May 30 was selected as Decoration Day first observed because it was NOT an anniversary of a battle.

• True or False?

7. What were decorated in remembrance of this day?

• Tombs of fallen Union soldiers
• Cemeteries of family
• State Capitals

8. Memorial Day was first used in 1882. However, the name was not used until after what war?

• World War 1
• World War II
• Korean War

9. On June 28, 1968, the United States Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which moved three holidays from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three-day weekend. However, it is considered the start of what?

• Holidays
• Summer
• Spring

10. What is one of the longest standing traditions which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911.

• Indianapolis 500
• Arizona Rodeo Days
• Washington DC Apple Blossom Festival

Check Your Answers

• 1. Last Monday in May
• 2. Decoration Day
• 3. 1865
• 4. Waterloo
• 5. John A. Logan
• 6. True
• 7. Tombs of fallen Union soldiers
• 8. World War II
• 9. Summer
• 10. Indianapolis 500

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