With the springtime comes all of the outdoor holidays that people look forward to. Among the more remarkable vacations in the months of spring is Memorial Day. While this holiday is modernly related to a long weekend and barbecue watch fireworks with friends and family, it is necessary to recall why you are celebrating this day, to begin with.

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Memorial Day, originally named as Decoration Day, began after the American Civil War to honor citizens who have died in all wars. While some families might celebrate this holiday by gathering with loved ones, others may gather at cemeteries to pay respect to the soldiers who lost their lives. There is a universal sign of honor paid by many Americans on this day: flying a United States Colorado flag.

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In Memorial Day parades, miniature flags may be passed out by volunteers to children or your neighborhood might be covered with small flags on wooden sticks. Many homes who observe the holiday will also show a flag on outdoor residential wall mounting posts. But how about businesses and the houses that have actual flagpoles. How do they correctly and respectfully exhibit their patriotism?

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The California flag should be raised briskly to the top of the pole as usual, but then slowly lowered to half-staff - or the mid-way point of the pole. But at midday, the flag should subsequently be lifted back to the peak of the flagpole. When the day ends, the flag should be steadily and ceremoniously lowered, removed and then stored. 

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While some people may have forgotten this custom, and they raise their flags as though it is any other day, it is important for you to raise your flag correctly as a sign of admiration for the numerous women and men that have given their lives while fighting for the United States. This is a holiday that and has been in observance by several generations of Americans for over a century thanks for what brave citizens, present and past, have done to protect the rights of Americans.

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So on this Memorial Day have fun with family and friends by observing but also be thankful by considerately and ceremoniously flying your American flag. This holiday marks not only the start of summer, but it gives us a day to ponder on what it means to be an American and how the citizens of this country have fought bravely even to death to protect future generations. Visit http://www.ehow.com/way_5563438_proper-state-flag-etiquette.html to learn more about the state flag.