Why do we observe Memorial Day? Here's the true history of the holiday

No, Memorial Day isn't about a long weekend road trip, backyard barbecue or sales. The real meaning of the national holiday is much more somber. 

Originally called Decoration Day, Monday's holiday honors all soldiers who died during service to the nation. 

Memorial Day was declared a national holiday through an act of Congress in 1971, and its roots date back to the Civil War era, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs.