You are legally obligated to observe a national moment of silence at 3 p.m.

(Image credit: Thinkstock)

last updated 8 January 2015

Put down that hotdog. Don't flip that burger. Maybe hold off for a moment on refilling that keg cup, because at 3 p.m. local time all Americans are required to pause to remember and honor the fallen. It's true. In December 2000, Congress passed a law designating the moment of silence for those not yet in a Memorial Day food coma.

This is just one of 7 facts dug up by the good people at TIME for the holiday. Another interesting tidbit: Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and, up until 1971, was observed every May 30. Click over to TIME for the rest. And don't forget to pause at 3 o'clock. It's the least you can do for our heroes.

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Lauren Hansen produces The Weekâ€™s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.