The Malheur County Health Department will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday, Monday, May 29, 2023, in honor and mourning of the people who who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day originated in 1868 following the Civil War. It became an official federal holiday in 1971. The current proclamation calls “on the people of the United States to observe Memorial Day by praying, according to their individual religious faith, for permanent peace; designating a period of time on Memorial Day during which the people may unite in prayer for a permanent peace; calling on the people of the United States to unite in prayer at that time; and calling on the media to join in observing Memorial Day and the period of prayer.”

Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season. (Remember your sunscreen and bug spray, drink responsibly, and stay safe!)

In in 2022, the National Cemetery Administration, a division of the Department of Veterans Affairs, credited Mary Ann Williams with originating the “idea of strewing the graves of Civil War soldiers—Union and Confederate” with flowers. This Memorial Day, let us remember those who courageously gave their lives.

We will reopen our office and clinic Tuesday, May 30th at 8:30 a.m.