The National Moment of Remembrance is a yearly event that takes place at 3 PM local time on Memorial Day, when Americans pause for a minute of silence to honor those who have died serving the United States. The event was established in December 2000 by the National Moment of Remembrance Act, which created the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. The commission's goal is to encourage Americans to participate in Memorial Day activities to "give back to their country". The moment of silence is meant to remind Americans of the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces and others who have died in service to the nation, and to encourage them to reflect on why they aren't at work or school.