Americans are just realizing the true meaning of Memorial Day – over HALF admit to having no clue about national holiday

OVER half of Americans don’t know what Memorial Day is, according to new research.

The shocking data was revealed in a new survey of 2,000 Americans, which found that only 48% of respondents knew why Memorial Day is a holiday.

Military personnel at the New York Stock Exchange.
Military personnel in New York for Fleet Week visit the New York Stock Exchange on Friday ahead of Memorial Day weekendCredit: AFP

Thirty-five percent of the panelists incorrectly thought Memorial Day was a holiday celebrating all military personnel, both living and deceased.

This, of course, is actually Veterans Day.

5% of all respondents incorrectly believed that Fourth of July is a holiday to honor all public servants, whether in the military or not, who died while on duty.

Do you know the real meaning?

It is, of course, honoring military personnel who died in service to their country.

When splitting out the results of the data by generation, there seems to be a divide amongst age groups.

Older generations, by and large, were far more likely to know the exact definition of Memorial Day when compared to younger Americans.

Only 27% of Gen Z respondents selected the correct definition, as well as just 38% ofmillennials.

Baby boomers were most on top of it, with 56% knowing precisely why Memorial Day was observed.

But just because you don’t know exactly what Memorial Day is, doesn’t mean you have to work on the unofficial start of summer.

Memorial Day warning for shoppers as sneaky info-stealers found across US – exactly what to check before you swipe

Of employed survey respondents, 65% have the day off from their job, while 35% will still be heading into work.

It comes after a similar survey revealed two out of three Americans don’t know the true meaning of Independence Day.

59% of those surveyed knew that the Fourth of July is celebrated to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Although 41 percent got the question wrong, 22 percent came close, choosing “The establishment of the United States as an independent nation.”

Why do we observe Memorial Day?

To honor military personnel who died in service to their country – 48%

To honor all military veterans, both living and deceased – 35%

To remember all public servants who lost their lives while working – 5%

To commemorate the Founding Fathers and their role in American independence – 3%

To honor past presidents who served in the military. 2%

Only 45% of participants could correctly identify the year when the first official celebration of independence occurred, which was in 1777, a year after the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

“At night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated,” The Pennsylvania Evening Post reported of the event.

Where the rest of the survey was concerned, however, many respondents did well in their understanding of US history and Civics, answering a series of questions that are often used in the US Citizenship Test.  

A whopping 82 percent correctly answered that the Commander in Chief of the military is the president, and a similar percentage (82 percent) identified the Star Spangled Banner as the title of the national anthem.

But some basic civics lessons still eluded those polled; for example, only 65 percent knew that there are nine members of the Supreme Court, which is currently in session.

Another 40 percent didn’t know that the “right to bear arms” is a part of the second amendment rather than the first – and 11 percent mistakenly believed that “freedom of speech” was not part of the first amendment at all. 

Prior to the test, only 61 percent claimed to be very knowledgeable about US history.

At the end 73 percent believed they got either most or all of the questions correct, suggesting that they were more confident in their abilities after the test.

You May Also Like

Concerns arise about potential pile-up of trash on city streets as 10,000 workers in a major US city go on strike

A significant US city has temporarily halted its trash collection, causing concern…

Helena from Love Island’s Incredible Transformation Photos

Love Island Helena Shocking Before And After Pics, From dark ombre hair…

One person killed and 3 others wounded in Germany as knife-wielding attacker goes on stabbing spree following office intrusion

A man in Germany went on a stabbing spree, resulting in the…

Teenagers Accused of Killing 16-Year-Old Boy Because of a Girl

Two South Carolina teens have been arrested in connection with the shooting…

David Beckham Faces Fresh Heartache as Brooklyn Beckham Poses with In-Laws in Heartfelt Family Photos Honoring Nicola Peltz’s Beloved Father, Nelson

Brooklyn Beckham spent the weekend celebrating his father-in-law Nelson, posing in happy…

The current whereabouts of Chris Butler, the former police officer turned private investigator, drug dealer, and brothel manager, are unknown.

DISGRACED former cop Chris Butler promoted the 2010 reality TV concept P.I.…

Newcastle Clubber Reported Missing by Girlfriend Found in Cambodian Jail on Drug Smuggling Charges

A man from the UK has been taken into custody in Cambodia…

“Grandfather Provides Insight into Motive of Idaho Shooting Suspect Wess Roley in Attack Leading to Two Firefighters’ Deaths”

The alleged shooter who led firefighters into the Idaho forest with a…

New Mexico Man Receives Sentence for Kidnapping and ‘Sexual Exploitation’ of 12-Year-Old Girl

A New Mexico man has been sentenced to 28 years in prison…

“China constructing massive military stronghold, ten times larger than Pentagon, with nuclear-proof bunker for wartime readiness”

CHINA is secretly constructing a massive new military fortress ten times bigger…

Discovering a Metal Box Containing Missing PA Woman’s Remains: Katlyn Harp’s Journey to Find Her Sister

Police say the sibling of slain Pennsylvania woman, Katlyn Harp, found her…

Dick Van Dyke’s spouse discloses a health scare

Dick Van Dyke’s Wife Reveals Health Scare, Van Dyke missed Vandy Camp…