The Real History of Memorial Day, Explained For Kids

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Hi little justice leaders. [music] Today, we're talking about the real history of Memorial Day. You may think Memorial Day is just a long [music] weekend, but the real story can teach us about history, fairness, and why remembering people truthfully matters.

[00:00:13]Memorial Day is a time to remember [music] US service members who died in service, and it came from local remembrance events after the Civil War, when some states were fighting to keep slavery. One of the earliest ceremonies was led by freed black Americans [music] in Charleston, South Carolina, where they honored soldiers who were part of the fight for freedom.

[00:00:30]>> [music] >> They cleaned up ground, held a parade, and placed flowers on the soldiers' graves.

[00:00:36]Overtime, it became known [music] as Memorial Day. In 1971, Congress made it a national holiday celebrated on the last [music] Monday in May.

[00:00:44]Memorial Day can include parades or family gatherings, but the heart of the day is remembrance. [music] It's about real people, real families, and real loss. Memorial Day is also a moment to think about all of the people affected by war, including families and communities far from home, and to imagine a world with less of it. [music] If you want to honor Memorial Day, you could learn the name of someone who served, >> [music] >> visit a memorial, take a moment to think about everyone impacted by war, [music] or draw or write about what peace looks like to you. As little justice leaders, >> [music] >> we know that learning the full story is how we bring more care into the world.

[00:01:22]Thanks for learning with us today. To stay up to [music] date on resources to talk to kids about diversity, equity, and justice, subscribe to our channel.

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