Memorial Day, May 25.  Memorial Day began after the Civil War with both formal and informal ceremonies at graves and ceremonies for the soldiers who had fallen in battle. Many places claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866, including Waterloo, New York, and Macon and Columbus, Georgia. On May 5, 1868, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a Union veterans organization, established Decoration Day, May 30, as a time for the nation to decorate the dead with flowers. Arlington National Cemetery held the first large observance later that year. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday in May.

Memorial Day Ceremonies in New Mexico:

Albuquerque, 10:30 am – 2 PM, NM Veterans Memorial Park, 1100 Louisiana Blvd SE

Albuquerque, NM 87108

Rio Rancho, 10:00 am, Veterans Memorial/Monument Park, 950 Pinetree Rd. SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

Santa Fe, 10:00 am, Santa Fe National Cemetery, 501 N. Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Socorro, 11:00 am, Isidro Baca Park, Center Street, Socorro, NM 87801