Every year, on the last Monday in May, the United States honors its war dead. It is often celebrated with parades, cookouts, and ceremonies at military cemeteries.

While many people just think of it as a three-day weekend and the beginning of summer, it is a tradition that extends back over 160 years.

Learn more about Memorial Day, how it got started, and how it is celebrated, on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices