The U.S. Embassy in San José will be closed today as the United States observes Memorial Day, which commemorates U.S. men and women who have died during military service.

Families, including those of the more than 4,000 U.S. troops killed in Iraq, will mourn today in a holiday that started after the mid-19th century Civil War to honor fallen soldiers of the Grand Army of the Republic.

The holiday's observers later grew to include families of the country's World War I casualties, and today, the day honors U.S. soldiers who have died in all wars and military missions thereafter.

Memorial Day always falls on the last Monday of May.

For many, it is a long weekend during which to visit a cemetery or war monument, have a picnic or attend sporting events like the Indianapolis 500 auto race, which saw its 92nd running yesterday.

The embassy will reopen tomorrow with normal opening hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.