How old are you that you still recall it as "Decoration Day"?   It's been called Memorial Day for over 50 years, so if you "recall" it as "Decoration Day" you must have already been quite old when Memorial Day became the official federal holiday.


In fact, it was even called Memorial Day before it was officially recognized as that by the federal government.   

And citizens are consumers and vice-versa.  And we like a day off every once in a while.   Being American we don't get as many days off as other civilized countries.