Dear readers,

The last Monday in May has no special meaning within the confines of Japan, but in America that is when we observe Memorial Day. Memorial Day acts as a remembrance for the men and women who died while serving in the United States military. Many people choose to visit cemeteries and decorate the gravesites of military personnel, often with an American flag.

The origins of the holiday are disputed, with as many as 25 locations claiming they started the holiday. The earliest accounts date back to the 1860s. Nowadays, many towns and cities hold large parades on Memorial Day, usually with marching bands and an overall military theme. It's not uncommon to see people laying out blankets and chairs to claim their spot along the parade path hours or even days before the parade is scheduled to start.

Recently, the holiday seems to have lost its original purpose and acts more as the "unofficial start of summer" for the United States. Because it is a national holiday, most people have the day off from work. "Memorial Day Weekend" is a popular time of year to travel or take a short vacation because of the long weekend. That being said, any organization or person who has a flag pole makes sure to fly the American flag at half-mast on Memorial Day to honor and mourn the men and women who gave their life for their country.

Thanks for reading! Next week I'll be talking about my favorite English movies, so look forward to it!