Some of this is because they now teach little, if any history in schools anymore. At least in the US. Sometimes schools are open on memorial day, and they never take Washington or Lincoln's day off anymore. Observing those days gives students a chance to recognize what they're about. When asked about why they don't teach important parts of our history, the system replies that it's "too violent"...but then the kids go home and play Call of Duty for 4 hours. Might teach a little about how wars are fought, but not why they're fought.