Memorial Day 的词源

“进行纪念的日子”，1819年开始指任何周年纪念日，特别是宗教周年纪念；参见memorial (adj.)。作为一个特别的五月底假日，以纪念美国战争阵亡者，始于1860年代后期，最初是为了纪念在内战中阵亡的北方士兵。1869年在退伍军人组织中正式称为这一名称，但也使用Decoration Day。北方主要的退伍军人组织“大军团”在1882年通过决议正式将其指定为纪念日：

That the Commander-in-Chief be requested to issue a General Order calling the attention of the officers and members of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of the people at large, to the fact that the proper designation of May 30th is Memorial Day and to request that it may be always so called. [Grand Army Blue Book, Philadelphia, 1884]

请请求总司令发布一项总令，提醒“大军团”的军官和成员，以及广大人民，5月30日的正确名称是纪念日，并请求始终如此称之。[Grand Army Blue Book, Philadelphia, 1884]

然而，南方有其自己的南方邦联纪念日，对于名称被明显挪用也有一些抱怨。

The word "Memorial" was adopted by the Maryland Confederates shortly after the war, and has been generally used throughout the South. It is distinctively Confederate in its origin and use, and I would suggest to all Confederate societies to adhere to it. The Federals' annual day of observance is known as "Decoration Day," having been made so by an act of Congress, and the 30th day of May named as the date. In Maryland there is annually a Decoration Day and a Memorial Day. The two words are expressive not only of the nature of the observance, but also of the people who participate therein. [Confederate Veteran, November 1893]

“纪念”一词在战争结束后不久被马里兰邦联人采纳，并在南方普遍使用。它在起源和使用上具有独特的邦联特色，我建议所有邦联协会坚持使用。联邦人的年度纪念日被称为“装饰日”，是由国会通过法案确定的，5月30日被指定为日期。在马里兰州，每年都有一个装饰日和一个纪念日。这两个词不仅表达了观察的性质，也表达了参与其中的人民。[Confederate Veteran, November 1893]