LANCASTER Co., S.C. -- On the Memorial Day holiday many Lancaster businesses will close. There will be no mail in the mailbox including the one outside Mary Hunt's home in Indian Land but her children are expected in school.

"My children are not going to school on Memorial Day,” says Hunt who flies the flag and grew up honoring Memorial Day as an important national holiday.

Hunt is outraged that Lancaster Schools are not taking the day off.

"That day is designated as a national holiday and right now it's designated as recognition of that day and we need to respect and honor that," Hunt said.

Sammy Fitzpatrick spent 20 years in the navy. He didn't know his daughter has school that day.

"Absolutely surprised and like my neighbor a little outraged at that,” he said.

Hundreds of Lancaster County students will take exams later that week, the last week of school.

School spokesman David Knight says that is why the district could not observe the holiday.

"Not having the kids for that extra day to get them focused and back on track after a weekend could really impact our student’s performance on tests,” Knight said.

"That's utterly ridiculous. It's the last week of school. They should be prepared for it,” Hunt said.

So far, school officials have heard few complaints.

"That's such a family day. I mean we're usually on the beach on Memorial Day and now we have to go to school."

Knight says the school district isn't thrilled about having school on Memorial Day either.

They point to state lawmakers who, last year, forced schools to delay the start of the school year to late August.

They were pressured by the tourism industry which relies heavily on teenage workers.

Even though Rock Hill schools are off on Memorial Day, Lancaster will have school that day and next year also.