Growing up, Jesse Ozbat attended J.E.J. Moore Middle School in Virginia. He later became a captain in the U.S. Army. On May 20, 2012, his unit was attacked in Afghanistan. Captain Ozbat and two others were killed.

Question

Growing up, Jesse Ozbat attended J.E.J. Moore Middle School in Virginia. He later became a captain in the U.S. Army. On May 20, 2012, his unit was attacked in Afghanistan. Captain Ozbat and two others were killed.

On Memorial Days since then, students at his former middle school gather to remember him and others. They perform music and read poetry. Students recite the names of service members from the area who were killed in wartime. With each name, a classmate plants a small American flag in the memorial garden. At the ceremony's closing, a trumpeter plays "Taps." This simple, haunting tune has been heard at military funerals since the Civil War.

Veterans Day on November 11 honors all who have served in the U.S. military. But Memorial Day is different. It honors the men and women who died while serving their country. In the United States, Memorial Day is observed every year on the last Monday of May. Many Americans think of the national holiday as a day off and the start of summer. They might take part in parades and picnics. However, the holiday's deeper meaning is found at solemn ceremonies like the one at Moore Middle School.

From Decoration Day to a National Holiday

What became Memorial Day began after the American Civil War (1861–1865). Historians think some 620,000 to 750,000 Union and Confederate troops perished in that conflict. It brought loss and grief to many families in the North and South.

After the war, communities held "Decoration Days." Citizens placed flowers and wreaths on the graves of the war dead. One such event took place in Charleston, South Carolina, on May 1, 1865. On that day, a group of Black Southerners—formerly enslaved, now free—organized a ceremony. They gave a proper burial to Union soldiers killed there. A year later, Waterloo, New York, held the first of its yearly observances. Today, the town claims the title of "Birthplace of Memorial Day."

Decoration Day became a national holiday after World War I (1914–1918). By then, it was widely known as Memorial Day. Now it honors all who died in the country's wars.

Places and Ways to Observe

Today, Americans in communities large and small commemorate Memorial Day. They organize events that often include parades. Marching bands fill downtowns with music. They are joined by military veterans and local service groups. Quieter observances take place as well. They still include decorating veterans' graves across the country. Thousands of U.S. service men and women are buried overseas as well. So, ceremonies are held around the world.

In the United States, Arlington National Cemetery has special importance. It is located near Washington, D.C. Arlington is the final resting place for thousands of American war dead. The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment is the official ceremonial unit there. For Memorial Day, its members place American flags beside about 228,000 headstones.

For the regiment, honoring those who gave their lives in service to their country never ends. Some guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The remains of unidentified service members rest inside. A guard is always on duty—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Which of these sentences states the main idea of the article?

A. On Memorial Day, people honor military men and women who died serving their country.
B. Marching bands are a part of many Memorial Day celebrations across the United States.
C. Memorial Day observations since the Civil War have included the decoration of graves.
D. Over Memorial Day weekend, some Americans take part in events like parades and picnics.

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Answer 1

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