“For over 70 years, Scouts around the country have been helping to honor our country’s fallen” according to the Scouting America Pacific Skyline Council website. “Golden Gate National Cemetery was first opened in 1941. Each year, Scouts, Scouters, veterans and other community groups from all over the Bay Area gather in tribute to these gallant men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.”

Memorial Day is a time of reflection and remembrance of those who died while serving in the U.S. military, according to the Congressional Research Service. The holiday is observed in part by the National Moment of Remembrance, which encourages all Americans to pause at 3 p.m. for a moment of silence.

The holiday stems from the American Civil War, which killed more than 600,000 service members — both Union and Confederate — between 1861 and 1865.

There’s little controversy over the first national observance of what was then called Decoration Day. It occurred May 30, 1868, after an organization of Union veterans called for decorating war graves with flowers, which were in bloom.

By Ben Finley, Associated Press contributed to this story.

In anticipation of Memorial Day ceremonies, Stacey Santos of Alameda joined the 1500 volunteers placing flags at the 144,000 graves at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif., Saturday, May 24, 2025. She stopped to place one at the grave of her father, Michael Santos, a Navy Veteran who fought in the Vietnam War and died this past Nov.. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 
In preparation for Memorial Day, 1500 volunteers placed flags on each of the 144,000 graves at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif., Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 
More than 144,000 flags were placed at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif., Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 
Oliver Hew, Stephen Hill and John Bodo from Troop 33 in Los Altos, Calif. place flags at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif., in preparation for Memorial Day, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 
In anticipation of Memorial Day, scouts from Troop 33 in Los Altos, Calif. joined the 1500 volunteers placing flags on each of the 144,000 graves at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif., Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 
Peter Lee, 12, from Troop 33 in Los Altos, Calif. places flags at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif., in preparation for Memorial Day, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 
Oliver Hew and Stephen Hill from Troop 33 in Los Altos, Calif. place flags at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif., in preparation for Memorial Day, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 
More than 144,000 flags were placed at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif., Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 
Natti Donhowe, left, and Peter Lee from Troop 33 in Los Altos, Calif. place flags at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif., in preparation for Memorial Day, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 
In anticipation of Memorial Day, scouts from Troop 33 in Los Altos, Calif. joined the 1500 volunteers placing flags on each of the 144,000 graves at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif., Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 
Peter Lee, Cassia Seem and Natti Donhowe from Troop 33 in Los Altos, Calif. place flags at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif., in preparation for Memorial Day, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 
In preparation for Memorial Day, 1500 volunteers placed flags on each of the 144,000 graves at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif., Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)