Should the U.S. Continue to Celebrate Confederate Memorial Day?

What's the story?

• Today, Americans on both sides of the Mason-Dixon are setting off legal and illegal fireworks in honor of those who gave their lives fighting for the stars and stripes.
• Throughout the south, however, a handful of states have another holiday to honor those who died fighting for the stars and bars.

Which states honor those who died in the Civil War?

Confederate Memorial Day is an official state holiday in Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina. It is unofficially observed in most southern states.

• Alabama, Florida, and Georgia celebrate Confederate Memorial Day on the fourth Monday in April.
• Mississippi observes Confederate Memorial Day on the last Monday in April.
• South Carolina honors Confederate soldiers on May 10.
• Virginia calls the last Monday in May Confederate Memorial Day.
• Louisiana celebrates Confederate Memorial Day on June 3, the same day Tennessee observes Confederate Decoration Day.
• Texas observes Confederate Heroes Day on January 19.

What do you think?

Do you support a Memorial Day honoring Confederate soldiers? Take action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: Art Anderson / Creative Commons)