SALEM - Each year on Memorial Day, Americans pay honor to all of those who have died while serving in the U. S. Armed Forces. In recognition of the holiday's rich history, the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs is announcing Memorial Day celebrations, of which the department has been made aware, that occurring throughout the state.
 
Memorial Day originated in 1868 when Union Gen. John A. Logan designated May 30 as a day to honor those who died in military service. The holiday has its roots in the practice of women decorating the graves of their loved ones who had died in the Civil War and was originally known as Decoration Day. The holiday's name was changed in 1882 to Memorial Day. It became a federal holiday in 1971 and is observed on the last Monday in May.
 
The department will host a memorial ceremony on Sat., May 30, at 2 p.m. on the ODVA's grounds in Salem, 700 Summer St. N.E. The ceremony will honor four fallen Oregon service members who died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their names will be inscribed on a granite wall.
 
Additional statewide Memorial Day event information is listed on the ODVA's website: www.oregon.gov/ODVA/MemorialDay.shtml or is attached to this release.
 

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