Many Americans are be taking advantage of this three-day weekend to travel, fire up their grills or head to the beach. But Memorial Day is more than just the de facto start of summer. It was created to honor the sacrifices of the soldiers who died fighting to win and preserve our freedoms.

Memorial Day began after the Civil War, to honor the fallen. It was originally known as Decoration Day and celebrated on May 30. After World War I, it became a day to honor those who died in all American wars. A 1971 act of Congress made Memorial Day a national holiday, to be celebrated on the last Monday of every May.