All Fontana Unified School District schools and offices will be closed on Monday, May 29, 2006 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.  In case of emergency, please remember that School Police Services is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including all holidays.

What is Memorial Day?

Memorial Day is much more than just a three-day weekend that kicks-off the beginning of summer.  For many people, especially the nation's thousands of combat veterans, this day is an important reminder of those who died in the service of their country.

It began in 1866 when Henry C. Welles, a druggist in the village of Waterloo, New York, first suggested that the patriots who had died in the Civil War should be honored by decorating their graves.  Embracing the idea, General John B. Murray, Seneca County Clerk, formed a committee to plan a day devoted to honoring the dead.  The townspeople made wreaths, crosses and bouquets for each veteran's grave and flew flags at half mast.  On May 5, 1866 a processional to the town's cemeteries was led by veterans.  The following year, the town observed this day of remembrance on May 5, as well.

Decoration Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan and was officially observed for the first time on May 30, 1868.  Originally, the South did not observe Decoration Day, preferring to honor their dead on separate days until after World War I.  In 1882, the name was changed to Memorial Day, and soldiers who had died in other wars were honored, as well.

In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day.  It was then also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays.

Online Resources:

• Presidential Proclamation
• Department of Veterans Affairs