Among all the nuances of Memorial Day that are debated by historians, it is important to note its origins in the Civil War.
With over 752,000 estimated casualties — 2.4 percent of the country's population in 1860 — almost every American family lost someone in that bloody war.
Thereby, when Memorial Day was established, every single American was remembering someone they loved getting killed in action. The cost of war was understood by the entire nation, and the burden shared by all.
Here are some memorable moments from Memorial Day Weekend, 2019
The Empire State Building in New York is lit up in red, white and blue for Memorial Day weekend on Friday, May 24. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)Bikers participate in a blessing of the bikes event at the Washington National Cathedral on May 24. The Rolling Thunder group is marking the 32nd anniversary of its annual Ride for Freedom motorcycle procession. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images)
A soldier with the 3rd Infantry Regiment participates in the Flags In event at Arlington National Cemetery on May 23. The cemetery hosted the event to adorn the graves of US service members. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)A soldier places a flag at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a severe storm in Arlington, Virginia, on Thursday, May 23. (Sgt. Maryam Treece/US Army)A man installs a candle at the 'Arlington West' display of war memorial crosses organized by Veterans for Peace (VFP) on Santa Monica Beach on May 26, 2019, in Santa Monica, California. Each white cross represents one U.S. military member killed in combat in the U.S. global war on terror. Red crosses represent ten military personnel killed. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)A reverend blesses bikers and their bikes at the Washington National Cathedral on May 24, 2019, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images)
People visit the beach during Memorial Day weekend on May 26, 2019, in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and this year New Jersey has banned smoking and vaping on nearly every public beach under tougher new restrictions. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)Sully, the gentle Labrador retriever who comforted former President George H.W. Bush and stayed by his side until he died last year, posed for a touching photo honoring his best late friend on Memorial Day. (Instagram)George and Barbara Bush were honored at the Memorial Day parade in Kennebunkport on Monday with two empty chairs. (Charles Krupa/AP) Matthew Murphy, 4, places a rose on a tombstone beside his father, Kevin Murphy, of Springfield, Virginia, during a volunteer event at Arlington National Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day on May 26, 2019, in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images)
