Originally called Decoration Day it was first observed in Waterloo, NY in 1866. On that day businesses closed, citizens decorated the graves of veterans with flowers and flags. Waterloo was recognized by the federal gov't in 1966 as the birthplace of Memorial Day.
In May of 1868 General John Logan called for a nationwide holiday stating "The 30th of May,1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land" On the first Decoration Day James Garfield gave a speech at Arlington Cemetery and 5000 participants decorated the nearly 20,000 graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers interred there.
Originally Memorial Day only honored those lost in the civil war but during WW 1 American casualties were coming home and it was decided that the holiday would honor veterans of all wars. For decades Memorial Day was held on May 30th, the day picked out by General Logan, but in 1968 congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, as a way to give federal employees a three day weekend and set the new date for the last Monday in May.
However you choose to celebrate this holiday, whether you visit a cemetery to lay a wreath, go to a towns parade, or just kick back and have a barbeque remember to thank the veterans, both past and present who paid the Ultimate price so that you can enjoy the freedoms we cherish today.
Nice article. Thank you John
ReplyDelete