Jason Rantz unpacks meaning of Memorial Day as study finds most young Americans don’t know it
May 26, 2025, 5:00 AM | Updated: 5:23 am

Members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment place flags at the headstones of U.S. military personnel buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in preparation for Memorial Day on May 22, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo: Andrew Harnik via Getty Images)
(Photo: Andrew Harnik via Getty Images)
KTTH Radio host Jason Rantz and Jake Skorheim, co-host of “The Jake and Spike Show” on 成人X站 Newsradio, discussed the widespread misunderstanding of Memorial Day鈥檚 true meaning and encouraged listeners to approach the holiday with greater awareness and respect.
According to a survey, only 27% of young Americans know the real reason behind Memorial Day. They often confuse it with Veterans Day. Rantz said he’s not as upset with the mix-up as he originally thought he’d be, but warned not to say “Happy Memorial Day.”
“I think their intent is good, and I wonder how you explain (the correct way) to people?” Rantz asked. “Maybe say, ‘I get what you mean, but it’s not happy Memorial Day鈥攁nd here’s why.'”
Jake聽suggested the correct way to approach it.
“It is a national holiday,” Jake said, “So I will always say, ‘I hope you enjoy your three-day weekend,’ and you’re not saying something like, ‘I hope you have an awesome Memorial Day.'”
What is Memorial Day to Jason Rantz?
According to the survey, only 27% of Gen Z could explain the purpose of Memorial Day. Millennials didn鈥檛 fare much better at 38%, while 56% of baby boomers were able to do so.
For Rantz, Memorial Day isn鈥檛 just about mattress sales, barbecues, or three-day weekends鈥攊t鈥檚 a solemn day of remembrance for the brave men and women who gave their lives defending this country. It鈥檚 about honoring sacrifice鈥攏ot “celebrating” a day off.
But he notes that, if you don鈥檛 understand the true meaning of Memorial Day, it鈥檚 not because the meaning changed, but because our culture got lazy, distracted, and increasingly disconnected from patriotism.
Listen to the full conversation below.聽
Listen to The Jason Rantz Show on weekday afternoons from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here. Follow Jason Rantz on聽,听,听, and聽.