SHARPEN YOUR PENCIL: MEMORIAL DAY TRIVIA

Let’s check in on our knowledge of Memorial Day, shall we? Read the passage and fill in the missing information with the list of words below.
 
Memorial Day commemorates the people who died while serving in the United States’ armed forces. The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of _____, originated as Decoration Day after the American _____ War in _____. The Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans, established it as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of those who died in the war with flowers. By the 20th century, competing Union and Confederate holidays had merged, and _____  _____ was born to honor all Americans who ______ while in the military service. It typically marks the _____ of the summer vacation, while _____  _____ marks its end.

Memorial Day finds many people visiting cemeteries and memorials to honor those who have died in military service. Volunteers place an _____  _____ on each grave in national cemeteries.
 
Different areas of the United States celebrate Memorial Day in different ways. There are annual Decoration Days in particular cemeteries where people gather on the designated day and put _____ on graves. There is often a _____ followed by a _____. It is believed that this practice began before the American Civil War and thus may reflect the true origin of Memorial Day. Others observe the day by attending _____, family gatherings, or even taking the time for a short _____.
 
On Memorial Day, the United States flag is raised to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the _____ position, where it remains until noon. The half-staff position remembers the more than _____ men and women who gave their _____ in service of their country. At noon, the flag is raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. During this process, their _____ is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for _____ _____ _____ for all.

How did you do? Are you a Memorial Day expert? Or do you need to spend this holiday brushing up on your knowledge of this coveted day?
 
 
Michelle

WORD LIST: flowers, one million, American flag, start, memory, half-staff, picnic, parades, Civil, died, liberty and justice, 1868, lives, Labor Day, service, May, vacation, Memorial Day