The old name is still used in the southern highlands, even though everyone knows it's officially Memorial Day. It's an occasion for families to gather that goes well beyond simply placing flowers on the graves of departed loved ones. Many do that year round anyway, since the advent of inexpensive, realistic, artificial flowers. But Decoration Day is a time for family get-togethers; a time to catch up on births, deaths, and marriages; a time to trace genealogies; and a time to reaffirm self, family, and place. It's one of our cultural anchors.
