Although Memorial Day became a federal holiday in the United States in 1971, the tradition of honoring service members who died in the line of duty began in 1868 with the establishment of Decoration Day.
The first major commemoration took place at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C.
Today, in Hopkinsville and across the country, tiny American flags adorn veterans’ graves in honor of Memorial Day, which is observed on Monday.
The public is welcome to attend a service Monday at 11 a.m. at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West on Fort Campbell Boulevard. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1913 organizes the ceremony.
Two hours before the service, volunteers from the Travis Manion Foundation will place hand-made commemorative tokens at the graves of fallen service members.
