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Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday. It commemorates the American men and women who have died serving their country in the military. It holds an important place in the hearts of Americans as they remember sacrifices made for their freedom. It is observed on the last Monday of May. It first started to honour the Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. It took on greater importance after American losses in World War I. The U.S. government decided the day would remember American casualties in any war, conflict or military action. People visit cemeteries and war memorials on this day. A special ceremony takes place at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. All around the country, flags fly at half-mast until lunch time.
“美國陣亡將士紀念日”為美國官方假日。以此來悼念陣亡的美軍官兵。在通往自由的道路上，美士兵獻出生命，該節日在美國民眾心中意義重大。于5月的最后一個周一舉行。起初，該節日為一戰陣亡的聯合士兵而設。一戰后，該節日地位逐漸上升。美政府決定，“陣亡將士紀念日”將悼念所有在戰爭、沖突或軍事行動中陣亡的美軍士兵。民眾前往墓地或參觀戰爭紀念館。在華盛頓，阿靈頓國家公墓將舉行特殊儀式。中午之前，全國所有國旗降半旗。
There is quite a history to Memorial Day. A Yale University professor said it was first celebrated in 1865 by freed slaves in South Carolina. The slaves buried dozens of Union soldiers in individual graves. They all died in prison. Waterloo, New York claims to be the official birthplace of Memorial Day, observing it every year from 1868. The name “Memorial Day” came about in 1882 but was not widely accepted until after World War II. The name became official in 1967. In 1968, the U.S. Congress decided the day should be part of a three-day weekend. The last change came in 1971, when the government moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. It took a few years after that for all U.S. states to follow.
“美國陣亡將士紀念日”大有來頭。某耶魯大學教授表示，南卡州自由奴隸率先在1865年舉行紀念活動。奴隸將數十具聯軍尸體各個掩埋。聯軍士兵均死在獄中。沃特盧，紐約均聲稱為“紀念日”誕生地，并從1868年開始每年慶祝。節日名稱“Memorial Day”起源于1882年，但直到二戰后才被人們廣泛接受。1967年，“Memorial Day”成為官方名稱。1968年，美國決議將“美國陣亡將士紀念日”列入三天假期。1971年，“紀念日”迎來最后一次變動，將5月的最后一個周一定為“美國陣亡將士紀念日”。全美各州逐步實施已是幾年以后了。
譯文屬可可英語原創，未經允許，不得轉載。
