What is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is a United States Federal Holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May (observed in 2008 on May 26). It was formerly known as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action. One of the longest standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911. It is also traditionally viewed as the beginning of summer by many, since many schools are dismissed around Memorial Day.
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women’s groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, “Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping” by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication “To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead” (Source: Duke University’s Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it’s difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many seperate beginnings. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Repu
After the Civil War ended in 1865, many communities both north and south began holding memorial days honoring those who died. Yale University professor of history David Blight holds that the first commemoration was held at the race track in Charleston, South Carolina by liberated slaves in 1865. Purportedly, the freed slaves unearthed a mass grave for Union soldiers who died in captivity at a prison camp nearby, and re-buried the soldiers in individual graves and declared these a Union graveyard. In 1868 the freed slaves returned on May 30th to decorate the graves with flowers, creating the first “Decoration Day.” A parade and picnic were held to commemorate the dead. General John Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, officially proclaimed May 30 as Memorial Day in 1868. The holiday was recognized by all states who had been members of the Union by 1873, though many of the states that had seceded refused to honor the holiday. As the commemoration became more common across
