[Lee Stewart]

Decoration Day or Memorial Day had always been observed on May 30. That was changed after the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 went into effect, moving Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. In effect, that gave Americans a long weekend and the unofficial start to summer. Veterans' groups have opposed this idea because it detracts from the original intention of the holiday -- to honor the nation's war dead. They've lobbied to return the day to May 30. Among those who had supported the idea was Hawaiian senator and World War II hero Daniel Inouye. Until his death in 2012, Inouye introduced legislation in support of the change at the start of every congressional term.