How Much Do You Know About Memorial Day?

 When my girls were in school I was quite appalled to learn that they had absolutely no idea what Memorial Day was really all about.  Over the years, especially since the government switched to observing most holidays on the Monday closest to the originally designated day, Memorial Day - like so many other holidays - has become another excuse for lots of sales.  To me it seems as though the real essence of the holiday has been lost.


This became even more apparent to me earlier this week when one of my co-workers (an individual closer to my age than not so this really caught me off guard) was on the phone making plans for a Memorial Day picnic.  From her side of the conversation, I can only assume that the person to whom she spoke asked what Memorial Day was anyway....

She stumbled over her words and then looked at me to ask "What is Memorial Day?  Is it about the dead soldiers?"  As a nation it seems as though many have lost sight of the true significance of the day.

That being said, I decided I would dedicate a couple of weekend blog posts to making sure that my readers are "in the know".  I'd wager a guess that many of you do know what the real reason for Memorial Day is.  But, indulge me.  If I can shed light on it's true meaning rather than the concept of "Memorial Day = Weekend/Holiday Sales Days"  to even one or two of my readers, then I'll be happy!

So, today... take the quiz below (compliments of http://www.quizland.com/ ) to see how much you know about Memorial Day.  I'll post the answers tomorrow (in a blog post of its own).  Later tomorrow, I'll post a separate blog post with some other interesting facts about the holiday... And then, on Monday... well, you'll just have to keep coming back all weekend to see what else I have up my sleeve!

  MEMORIAL DAY TRIVIA QUIZ 

Q1:  

Memorial Day was founded to honor military personnel who died in... The Revolutionary War The Civil War The Spanish-American War World War I World War II

Q2:   

Which community was proclaimed in 1966 by the U.S. government as the birthplace of Memorial Day? Springfield, Pennsylvania Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Arlington, Virginia Waterloo, New York Bunker Hill, Massachusetts

Q3:   

On what date was Memorial Day first observed? May 30th, 1856 May 5th, 1866 May 25th, 1889 May 29th, 1901 May 15th, 1919

Q4:   

Memorial Day originated with another name. What was it? Honor Day Old Soldiers' Day Decoration Day Remembrance Day Bravery Day

Q5:   

Since the end of World War I, Memorial Day is also called which of the following? Poppy Day War Heroes' Day Armed Forces Day Military Day Old Soldiers' Day

Q6:   

Memorial Day is different in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, and Tennessee. How? These states celebrate Memorial Day on Jefferson Davis' birthday Instead of a somber, solemn observance, these states celebrate the memory of the fallen with gala festivals Memorial Day in these states excludes the Union dead in the Civil War These states choose to honor Confederate dead in the Civil War on a separate day In these states, the Confederate flag is flown alongside the American flag

Q7:  

Why is General John Alexander Logan important to the celebration of Memorial Day? He is the first officially documented casualty in a war He called for more official government recognition of the holiday He was the first to place a wreath at the Grave of the Unknowns He is responsible for accumulating and maintaining statistics of the U.S. war dead He ordered that the holiday be observed by decorating the graves of the war dead

Q8:   

In which war did the most U.S. service people die? The Revolutionary War The Civil War World War I World War II The Vietnam War

Q9:   

Which war had the highest percentage of U.S. casualties based on the number of troops served? The Revolutionary War The Civil War World War I World War II The Vietnam War

Q10:  

According to the Department of Defense, how many U.S. service men and women have died in battle in all wars in which the U.S. was involved? 186,203 575,377 923,846 About 1.4 million They don't even estimate

 

Come back tomorrow for the answers to the trivia quiz - and see how you did!