Memorial Day has a long history in these great United States of America, and it's time we all learned why we celebrate this day.
Memorial Day hasn't always been called that. No, originally it was called Decoration Day because it was used to decorate the graves of those who have died in service of the United States of America. Where did it start? Well, over two dozen cities and towns claim to the be the birthplace of Decoration Day€”each with their own set of evidence to support their claim. Of course, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day so President Johnson declared the birthplace to be Waterloo, New York in May 1966.
Regardless of the origin, Memorial Day was born out of the Civil War from a desire to honor our dead who gave their lives. On May 5, 1868, General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, officially proclaimed, €œThe 30
th 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.€ This day was chosen because it was not the anniversary of any one particular battle.
On the very first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery where 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldier that lay buried there.
Southern states didn't honor the holiday, choosing a separate day to honor their dead, until after World War I€”when the holiday changed from honoring those who perished in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.
It is now celebrated on the last Monday in the month of May as a Federal holiday and helps ensure a three-day weekend.
Enjoy Memorial Day with the protection you deserve!
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