20+ Best Memorial Day Trivia With Answers

Memorial Day, also known as Decoration Day, is a solemn holiday in the United States. This federal holiday is a time to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Through the following memorial day trivia questions, we aim to bring to light the historical depth and importance of this holiday.

Easy Memorial Day Trivia Questions with Answers

Here are some easy memorial day trivia questions and answer. Let’s see how many of the questions below you can answer.

1. ​What was the original name of Memorial Day?A: Decoration Day.
2. ​When is Memorial Day observed every year?A: The last Monday of May.
3. ​Which war sparked the creation of Memorial Day?A: The American Civil War.
4. ​Where was the first Memorial Day celebration held?A: Waterloo, New York.
5. ​Which U.S. President declared Memorial Day a federal holiday?A: President Richard Nixon.
6. ​What cemetery holds the national Memorial Day ceremony?A: Arlington National Cemetery.
7. ​How is the National Moment of Remembrance Act related to Memorial Day?A: The Act encourages all Americans to pause for a moment of silence at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day to honor the fallen.
8. ​What was the year of the first large-scale observance of Memorial Day?A: 1868.
9. ​What is another name for the small flags placed on soldiers’ graves during Memorial Day?A: Grave markers.
10. ​ What is the official birthplace of Memorial Day, as declared by President Lyndon B. Johnson?A: Waterloo, New York.
11. ​On which day of the week is the National Memorial Day Concert usually held?A: Sunday.
12. ​Who officially declared the last Monday in May as the day of celebration for Memorial Day?A: Congress.
13. ​Who proposed the idea of Memorial Day being observed across the entire United States?A: General John Logan.
14. ​What is a common symbol seen on Memorial Day that was inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields”?A: Red poppies.
15. ​Which federal law enacted in 2000 affects Memorial Day observance?A: The National Moment of Remembrance Act.
16. ​How does the “National Moment of Remembrance Act” suggest Americans should observe Memorial Day?A: By taking a moment of silence at 3 p.m. local time.
17. ​What significant event occurs at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every Memorial Day?A: The President or Vice President lays a wreath at the tomb.

Memorial Day True or False Questions with Answers

1. Memorial Day is the unofficial kickoff of the summer season. A: True.
2. Memorial Day is the same as Veterans Day. A: False. Memorial Day honors those who died while serving in the military, while Veterans Day honors all U.S. military veterans.
3. Red poppies are a traditional symbol of Memorial Day. A: True.
4. The first state to officially recognize Memorial Day was North Carolina. A: False. It was New York.
5.  Memorial Day was a response to the unprecedented carnage of the World War II. A: False. It was a response to the American Civil War.

Memorial Day Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was Memorial Day originally called?

• A. Veterans Day
• B. Armed Forces Day
• C. Decoration Day
• D. National Remembrance Day

            Answer: C. Decoration Day

2. What is the significance of the red poppy on Memorial Day?

• A. It symbolizes the start of summer.
• B. It represents the blood of those who died in war.
• C. It is a symbol of hope.
• D. It represents the birth of the United States.

          Answer: B. It represents the blood of those who died in war.

3. Who was the first person to propose the idea of Memorial Day?

• A. A group of Southern women
• B. General John Logan
• C. President Bill Clinton
• D. None of the above

Answer: B. General John Logan

4. Memorial Day was initially celebrated on which date?

• A. Last Sunday of May
• B. May 30
• C. May 1
• D. First Monday of May

Answer: B. May 30

5. Which U.S. President signed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, moving Memorial Day to the last Monday of May?

• A. Richard Nixon
• B. John F. Kennedy
• C. Lyndon B. Johnson
• D. Gerald Ford

Answer : A. Richard Nixon

7. What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?

• A. There is no difference.
• B. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who died while serving.
• C. Memorial Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Veterans Day honors those who died while serving.
• D. Both A and C

Answer : B. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who died while serving.

8. Which U.S. city claims to have had the first large-scale public Memorial Day event?

• A. New York City, New York
• B. Charleston, South Carolina
• C. Washington, D.C.
• D. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Answer : B. Charleston, South Carolina

9. The moment of silence observed on Memorial Day is typically held at what time?

• A. 12 p.m.
• B. 3 p.m.
• C. 6 p.m.
• D. 9 p.m.

Answer: B. 3 p.m.

10. What does the red poppy symbolize on Memorial Day?

• A. The beginning of summer
• B. Hope and renewal
• C. The bloodshed in war
• D. National unity

Answer: C. The bloodshed in war

11. Which war resulted in the most American military deaths, eventually leading to the creation of Memorial Day?

• A. World War II
• B. The Civil War
• C. World War I
• D. The Vietnam War

Answer: B. The Civil War

12. Which U.S. President gave a famous speech at Gettysburg, which is often associated with Memorial Day sentiments?

• A. George Washington
• B. Abraham Lincoln
• C. Thomas Jefferson
• D. Woodrow Wilson

Answer: B. Abraham Lincoln

13.  What is traditionally played by buglers at military funerals and Memorial Day services?

• A. “The Star-Spangled Banner”
• B. “Taps”
• C. “Reveille”
• D. “America the Beautiful”

Answer: B. “Taps”

14. What was the name of the World War I poem that helped popularize the red poppy as a symbol of remembrance?

• A. “Ode to the West Wind”
• B. “The Waste Land”
• C. “In Flanders Fields”
• D. “Dulce et Decorum est”

Answer: C. “In Flanders Fields”

15. Memorial Day was not recognized as a federal holiday until which year?

• A. 1890
• B. 1920
• C. 1950
• D. 1971

Answer: D. 1971

16. Where is the National Memorial Day Parade held annually?

• A. New York, New York
• B. Washington, D.C.
• C. Los Angeles, California
• D. Houston, Texas

Answer: B. Washington, D.C.

17. Which is the oldest continually running Memorial Day parade in the United States?

• A. The National Memorial Day Parade, Washington, D.C.
• B. The Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade, New York
• C. The Doylestown Memorial Day Parade, Pennsylvania
• D. The Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade, New York

Answer: C. The Doylestown Memorial Day Parade, Pennsylvania

18. What was the original purpose of Decoration Day, now known as Memorial Day?

• A. To mark the beginning of summer
• B. To honor the dead of all wars
• C. To decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers with flowers
• D. To celebrate the end of World War II

Answer: C. To decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers with flowers

19. Where is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier located?

• A. Gettysburg National Cemetery
• B. Arlington National Cemetery
• C. National Cemetery of the Pacific
• D. Mount Vernon

Answer: B. Arlington National Cemetery

 20. In addition to the United States, what other countries observe a similar day of remembrance?

• A. Canada and Australia
• B. Mexico and Spain
• C. France and Germany
• D. Japan and China

Answer: A. Canada and Australia

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Memorial Day Facts

• This solemn holiday was established to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
• The holiday was later renamed to Memorial Day, and it was extended to honor all Americans who died while in military service.
• The birthplace of Memorial Day is considered to be Waterloo, New York.
• Small American flags are often placed at the graves of those who gave their lives in military service.
• The red poppy, a symbol of remembrance derived from the WWI poem “In Flanders Fields,” is often displayed or worn on Memorial Day.
• The National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the Sunday before Memorial Day on the west lawn of the United States Capitol.

Memorial Day Traditions

They’re a pretty cool way to honor those super brave people who lost their lives serving in the military. You know, lots of folks head out to cemeteries and memorials, leaving flowers and flags on the graves. It’s a simple but powerful gesture, right?

And you’ve got to love the parades! All across the country, cities and towns put on these awesome parades with soldiers and veterans marching, bands playing – the works!

There’s also this big concert at the United States Capitol’s west lawn. You can catch it on PBS and NPR if you can’t make it to D.C. And get this, every year on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, the President or the Vice President places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It’s a really powerful moment!

Now, here’s something cool President Bill Clinton did. He signed this thing called the National Moment of Remembrance Act.

This act asks all of us to stop whatever we’re doing at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day, and just be silent for a minute. That minute is for us to think about and honor the heroes who died serving our nation.

So yeah, Memorial Day is the unofficial kickoff to summer, but more than that, it’s a time for us to remember and appreciate those who made the ultimate sacrifice. That’s the real deal about Memorial Day!

We hope you enjoyed the memorial day trivia questions and answer in this article.

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