2020 Memorial Day Official Colors + Design Ideas

Memorial Day is more than a long weekend and a holiday. It’s a chance to honor America’s military veterans and heroes who laid down their lives for the security and stability of the United States.

There are many ways to remember America’s finest and show honor and respect on Memorial Day. As any great designer will tell you, color can represent thoughts, feelings and emotions beautifully.

With so many reasons to stop and reflect in 2020, this may be the perfect year to really take our time and properly honor our heroes and our history.

The official ribbon color of Memorial Day is yellow. But why? The earliest roots of the tradition tie to the poem “She wore a yellow ribbon”, which has been in existence for roughly 4 centuries. In it, a woman wears a yellow ribbon while waiting for a man she loves to return from a great test or trial. The tradition carried on through Protestant England, where the Puritan Army wore yellow ribbons and sashes during the English Civil War.

Yellow became the official color of the armor branch of the U.S. Army, and was first brought into popular culture by the artist Frederic Remington.

The poem “She wore a yellow ribbon” was updated into song and first published in 1917 as a military marching song by George Norton. However, the yellow ribbon’s popularity and tie to the U.S. military became entrenched during World War II, when the song was re-written and released in the 1949 film “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon”. Versions of the song were released by the Andrews Sisters, Mitch Miller and others.

Modern Americans are much more familiar with the song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree”, although it will surprise many to know it was not written until the 1970s.

What other Memorial Day colors are appropriate besides yellow?

Variations of red, white and blue are always welcome on Memorial Day. We also love the idea of using military shades of green to signify respect and remembrance of American soldiers and military members.

We’ve included six official Pantone colors that we think are great options for Memorial Day.

What colors do you use to observe Memorial Day? Leave a comment!