Memorial Day by the Numbers

Dale Seaquist performs “Taps” for his 68th consecutive Memorial Day at Little Sister Bay at 10:30 am Monday, May 26. He is pictured here at the 2013 ceremony.

24

The number of notes in “Taps,” which is played by the military at burial and memorial services, to accompany the lowering of the flag and to signal the “lights out” command at day’s end.

28

Average number of burials each day at Arlington National Cemetery.

68

Including at this year’s ceremony at Little Sister Bay Cemetery at 10:30 am Monday, May 26, the number of consecutive years Dale Seaquist will have played “Taps” at a Door County Memorial Day ceremony.

150

The number of years since Arlington National Cemetery was established for military burials (May 1864).

1868

The year Union veterans established Decoration Day, celebrating it at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30 of that year.

1971

The year Memorial Day was established as an official national holiday.

1,343,812

Total number of U.S. war casualties going back to the American Revolution (2013 figure).

3.1 million

Gravesites maintained for veterans by the National Cemetery Administration.

Sources:  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense, Arlington National Cemetery.