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Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the USA to honor and remember those who died in service to our nation. The date of the holiday changes but it always falls on the last Monday of May.

In the U.S.A., Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance of those who died in service to their country. The holiday was officially proclaimed in 1868 to honor Union and Confederate soldiers who loss their lives in the Civil War.

The latest historical research has the Civil War death toll at 850,000. This number has surpassed all the other wars the U.S.A. has fought in combined. The population was estimated to be approximately 31 million (not counting Native Americans or Black Americans).

Click here to access the U.S. Census Memorial Day Infographic for more information and the complete infographic.

An image of part of the Memorial Day Infograph that's too small to read.

The important takeaway from this graphic is that all other wars, skirmishes, conflicts, and battles that the US has been involved with combined, none have taken the toll that the war that took place on the U.S. soil—the Civil War—has. Period.

Civil War Death Toll: 850,000 deaths (latest research)

All Other US Military Involvements since 1870s until 2020:  707,081 deaths

Memorial Day is one of three official days The United States has to honor those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces.

A poster showing the difference between Veterans Day, Memorial day, and Armed Forces Day

  1. Memorial Day, a federal holiday, is observed the last Monday in May, honors those who have lost their lives in action in service to our nation.
  2. Veterans Day, a federal holiday, that is observed every year on November 11th to honor all those who have served in the Armed Forces.
  3. Armed Forces Day is a celebration day that honors all active and former personnel across the six branches of the United States military. It is celebrated on the third Saturday of every May. This year’s (2023) has already passed on on May 20.

As any of you know, the head and founder of Chanticleer Book Reviews, Kiffer Brown is a self-described military brat. Her father, brother, her Aunt Ellen, nephews, and cousins have served or are serving in the military. Recognizing and honoring the service of those in the Armed Forces is a longstanding tradition for her and her family.

National Moment of Remembrance

On Memorial Day, remember that there is a National Moment of Remembrance. To honor the moment, pause for one minute at 3 p.m. at your local time, and remember those who have died in service to this nation.

Second Lieutenant Billy Wayne Flynn was killed in action, Vietnam, January 23, 1967. He was 24 years old. (He gave to me my first book of poetry before he left for Vietnam. I still have it. Kiffer Brown)

The Military and Front Line Book Awards

The 2022 Grand Prize Winner for the Military and Front Line Awards, Lost in Beirut by Ashe & Magdalena Stevens

Every year we receive several non-fiction books that deal with serving in the military or some other front line capacity in service to our nation. This year the number and quality of submissions was great enough that we are excited to announce the new division that recognizes work focusing on those in Military or Front Line Service.

The new Division honors the following Non-Fiction Narratives:

  • Military and Armed Forces Service Narratives
  • Medical Stories focused on Nurses, Doctors, Health Care Workers, and other Essential Workers
  • Stories of Community Service Workers such as Firefighters and Police
  • CARE, Peace Corps, Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and other service organizations
  • Work in Agencies that serve their Community and Government
  • Families of those who serve in these Community Roles

Keep Telling Stories – They Are Needed!

We are always honored to be trusted with any book at Chanticleer. It is a pleasure to be able to highlight these stories in particular with their own division.

  • “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.“–Mark Twain
  • “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” – Maya Angelou
  • “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”—Joseph Campbell

Got a Military OR Wartime Fiction Story?

We now also have the Hemingway Awards for 20th C. Military Fiction.

Running with Cannibals Cover

The 2022 Hemingway Grand Prize Winner, Running with Cannibals by Robert W. Smith

The 2023 CIBAs are open.
If you don’t submit, you can’t win!

Thank you to veterans everywhere!

All of us at Chanticleer have family who have served, and that makes holidays like Memorial Day important to us. We ask you to take time out of your day to remember the veterans in your life and those who have died in active service on this day of reflection.