世界节假日博览 第103期:美国阵亡将士纪念日

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday. It commemorates the American men and women who have died serving their country in the military. It holds an important place in the hearts of Americans as they remember sacrifices made for their freedom. It is observed on the last Monday of May. It first started to honour the Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. It took on greater importance after American losses in World War I. The U.S. government decided the day would remember American casualties in any war, conflict or military action. People visit cemeteries and war memorials on this day. A special ceremony takes place at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. All around the country, flags fly at half-mast until lunch time.
“美国阵亡将士纪念日”为美国官方假日。以此来悼念阵亡的美军官兵。在通往自由的道路上，美士兵献出生命，该节日在美国民众心中意义重大。于5月的最后一个周一举行。起初，该节日为一战阵亡的联合士兵而设。一战后，该节日地位逐渐上升。美政府决定，“阵亡将士纪念日”将悼念所有在战争、冲突或军事行动中阵亡的美军士兵。民众前往墓地或参观战争纪念馆。在华盛顿，阿灵顿国家公墓将举行特殊仪式。中午之前，全国所有国旗降半旗。


There is quite a history to Memorial Day. A Yale University professor said it was first celebrated in 1865 by freed slaves in South Carolina. The slaves buried dozens of Union soldiers in inpidual graves. They all died in prison. Waterloo, New York claims to be the official birthplace of Memorial Day, observing it every year from 1868. The name “Memorial Day” came about in 1882 but was not widely accepted until after World War II. The name became official in 1967. In 1968, the U.S. Congress decided the day should be part of a three-day weekend. The last change came in 1971, when the government moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. It took a few years after that for all U.S. states to follow.
“美国阵亡将士纪念日”大有来头。某耶鲁大学教授表示，南卡州自由奴隶率先在1865年举行纪念活动。奴隶将数十具联军尸体各个掩埋。联军士兵均死在狱中。沃特卢，纽约均声称为“纪念日”诞生地，并从1868年开始每年庆祝。节日名称“Memorial Day”起源于1882年，但直到二战后才被人们广泛接受。1967年，“Memorial Day”成为官方名称。1968年，美国决议将“美国阵亡将士纪念日”列入三天假期。1971年，“纪念日”迎来最后一次变动，将5月的最后一个周一定为“美国阵亡将士纪念日”。全美各州逐步实施已是几年以后了。