The History of Memorial Day

The importance of Memorial Day isn’t lost on the average American, we all understand what we’re memorializing. However, given that only 10% of us have served, for many it’s an intellectual understanding. Memorial Day’s deeper meaning can be diluted by all the barbeques, family gatherings, and parties. The history of Memorial Day is our history. It’s story is told by the ultimate sacrifice that the men and women who wore our military uniform made, so that we can enjoy such a holiday.

Originally known as Decoration Day, this holiday originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. We often gather at cemeteries or memorials, and celebrate with family and friends the contribution of the over 1.2 million service members who have died in service of America.

Memorial Day’s early observances

In 1865 The Civil War ended. The battle would claim more lives than any other single conflict in American history, and nearly as many as all subsequent battles combined. As a result, the magnitude of Civil War losses instigated a need for national cemeteries. And by the late 1860’s, in towns all across America, cities began holding tributes in the spring to honor these fallen soldiers. In these gatherings people would decorate grave markers with flowers and say prayers.

There is no definitive evidence where these traditions began. It’s possible that the earliest Memorial Day observation may have been organized by former slaves out of Charleston, South Carolina just month’s after the Confederacy surrender. In reality, early memorial celebrations were independently created by communities across America, and we’ll never really know. However, in 1966, it was declared by the federal government that Waterloo, New York, would be the official birthplace of Memorial Day.

Why Waterloo?

Well, Waterloo first celebrated the first memorial on May 5, 1866, and was selected because its celebration was to be annual, community-wide, and requested that businesses be closed as residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

The birth of Decoration Day

By 1868, all across American, a tradition was beginning to emerge. This inspired General John A. Logan, the leader of an organization representing Civil War veterans of the north, to call for a national remembrance he called Decoration Day. 

Decoration Day would the 30th of May, and a time for communities to decorate the graves of our fallen soldiers who died in the Civil War. The date was also selected because it was a day where no consequential battles were fought. 

On the first Decoration Day memorial, General James Garfield gave a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and many participants who attended decorated the graves of the 20,000 Civil War soldiers who were buried at the historic cemetery. In the following years, in the northern states, similar events were and reprised the tradition over the years. By 1890 each northern state had made Decoration Day an official state holiday. Southern states, however, maintained separate, independent traditions, until after World War I.

The History of Memorial Day

Over the years Decoration Day would become associated with honoring the Civil War dead. However, World War I would ultimately take the lives of thousands of brave soldiers. With the need to broaden the meaning of the memorial to include the World War I soldiers, Decoration Day would evolve into Memorial Day. The new tradition would commemorate American military personnel who perished in all wars, including World War II, The Vietnam War, The Korean War, as well as more recent conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and the War on Terror. 

Until the passage of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, Memorial Day had ben observed on it’s original May 30th date. However, with the passage of the new law Memorial Day was moved to the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day holiday for federal employees. As a result, as of 1971 Memorial day has been a federally observed holiday.

The bottom line

During the Memorial Day holiday many will take a weekend trips, throw a party, or enjoy a barbeque with friends and family. Memorial Day will mark the unofficial start of summer. We will enjoy the life, freedom, and opportunity we have been given.

Regardless how we choose to celebrate, we do understand that the history of Memorial Day is the commemoration of the price paid to preserve the American experiment.

All across the United States, in cities and towns both large and small, we remember and we celebrate our fallen heroes. We have parades and say prayers.  May these sacrifices continue to resonate, and we continue to honor the sacrifice by making the American experiment the greatest contribution to civil society possible.