In the 1950s Passaic NJ had a large Memorial Day parade. Memorial Day was known as Decoration day since it was customary to decorate the graves of servicemen who died in the nation’s wars. Passaic was a city of close to 50,000 composed of immigrants and their children from all parts of Europe, Puerto Rico and a substantial minority of people who traced their lineage to the Revolution. Attendance at that parade was huge. Contingents of the American Legion, VFW, Catholic and Jewish War veterans marched. What was extremely moving was the open emotion and tears of many people lining the parade route as these organization marched behind their colors and always the American flag carried by a veteran. Passaic lost many of its native sons in WW I and WW II. Their families attended and were never ashamed to demonstrate their inconsolable grief and patriotism. The day was not about picnics, barbeques and long weekends.
Armed Forces Day in the United States is the third Saturday in May and occurs near the end of Armed Forces week which begins on the second Sunday.