Monday marked the 155th observation of Memorial Day as the nation honored those who have lost their lives in service to the country.

Recognized annually on the last Monday in May, this year the holiday falls on May 29.

President Joe Biden marked the day at Arlington National Cemetery, where about 400,000 people — veterans and their eligible dependents — are buried. He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and deliver an address.

The holiday was first widely observed in 1868 as the country recovered from the American Civil War. It became a federal holiday over one century later in 1971.

Since the Revolutionary War ended in 1783, over 646,000 American troops have died in battle, while over 539,000 died from other non-combat related causes, Military.com reported in 2020.

More than 42 million Americans were expected to travel over the weekend, according to the travel organization Triple-A, marking what was expected to be the third busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2000, when AAA started tracking holiday travel.

Story Date: May 30, 2023