世界節(jié)假日博覽 第103期:美國陣亡將士紀(jì)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.
“美國陣亡將士紀(jì)念日”為美國官方假日。以此來悼念陣亡的美軍官兵。在通往自由的道路上，美士兵獻(xiàn)出生命，該節(jié)日在美國民眾心中意義重大。于5月的最后一個(gè)周一舉行。起初，該節(jié)日為一戰(zhàn)陣亡的聯(lián)合士兵而設(shè)。一戰(zhàn)后，該節(jié)日地位逐漸上升。美政府決定，“陣亡將士紀(jì)念日”將悼念所有在戰(zhàn)爭、沖突或軍事行動(dòng)中陣亡的美軍士兵。民眾前往墓地或參觀戰(zhàn)爭紀(jì)念館。在華盛頓，阿靈頓國家公墓將舉行特殊儀式。中午之前，全國所有國旗降半旗。


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.
“美國陣亡將士紀(jì)念日”大有來頭。某耶魯大學(xué)教授表示，南卡州自由奴隸率先在1865年舉行紀(jì)念活動(dòng)。奴隸將數(shù)十具聯(lián)軍尸體各個(gè)掩埋。聯(lián)軍士兵均死在獄中。沃特盧，紐約均聲稱為“紀(jì)念日”誕生地，并從1868年開始每年慶祝。節(jié)日名稱“Memorial Day”起源于1882年，但直到二戰(zhàn)后才被人們廣泛接受。1967年，“Memorial Day”成為官方名稱。1968年，美國決議將“美國陣亡將士紀(jì)念日”列入三天假期。1971年，“紀(jì)念日”迎來最后一次變動(dòng)，將5月的最后一個(gè)周一定為“美國陣亡將士紀(jì)念日”。全美各州逐步實(shí)施已是幾年以后了。