Are grocery stores open on Memorial Day 2024? Stores hours and details on Costco, Walmart, more

On Memorial Day 2024, most grocery stores including Walmart, Kroger, and Publix will be open, while Costco will remain closed. Walmart will operate from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sam's Club will have adjusted hours for its members. It’s advisable to check specific store hours locally as they may vary. Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is a U.S. holiday honoring military personnel who have died in service, dating back to the 1860s.

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, holds significant historical importance in the United States as a day to honor and remember those who have died while serving in the U.S. military. The roots of Memorial Day date back to the 1860s following the American Civil War, the deadliest conflict in U.S. history, which necessitated the establishment of the country's first national cemeteries.

The term "Decoration Day" comes from the early tradition of decorating soldiers' graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags. This practice was first proposed by General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, who proclaimed May 30, 1868, as a day for decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country145. The date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of any particular battle, highlighting the neutral and inclusive nature of the remembrance.

Over time, as the United States found itself involved in subsequent wars, the observance was expanded to honor all American military personnel who died in wars1. The holiday gradually became known as Memorial Day, especially after World War II, and was declared a federal holiday in 1971, observed on the last Monday of May to create a long weekend145. This change was part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act aimed at providing consistent holiday schedules for federal employees1.