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The History of Memorial Day

Decoration Day:

When I was young, we celebrated Decoration Day on May 30th of every room; Decoration Day, not Memorial Day. Recently, I began thinking about the difference in the services and the name change, and decided it was time to refresh my memory as to the differences between the two observances and why the changes came about. To understand, I believe we have to start at the beginning, February 9, 1826 the birth of John Alexander Logan.

Born and raised in Murphysboro, Illinois, Logan grew up in a household that was a center for political activity, naturally leading him to his political motivation early on in life. In 1840, Logan began furthering his education at Shiloh Acadame at Shiloh Hill, Illinois. In 1846 he would volunteer for the Mexican War, serving at Santa Fe, where he became post quartermaster. At the close of the war, he studied law at Louisville University; leading him into his political career where he would begin as a county clerk and travel the ranks to U.S. Congressman.

When the Civil War broke out, Logan left congress; fighting first at Bull Run as a civilian; before volunteering for formal service, during which he would rise to the rank of major general. Logan was by far a civic minded individual, ready, willing and able to serve his country in any capacity necessary. At war’s end, he returned to congress, where his concern for the Civil War Veteran would lead him to participate in the first memorial services for veterans in 1866. In 1868, after being elected Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), he officially proclaimed Decoration Day on May 5, 1868 in his General Order No. 11, which stated:

General Orders No.11
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868

I. The 30th day 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 church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

If our eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from hishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.

II. It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to lend its friendly aid in bringing to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

III. Department commanders will use efforts to make this order effective.

By order of
JOHN A. LOGAN, Commander-in-Chief
N.P. CHIPMAN, Adjutant General
Official: WM. T. COLLINS, A.A.G.

The first official national Decoration Day remembrance was observed on May 30, 1868. Southern states refused to observe Decoration Day, preferring to honor their dead on separate days. New York would be the first state to officially recognize Decoration Day as a holiday in 1873. The separate remembrances continued until well after WWI, despite the fact that in 1882 the name was official changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day and veterans from other wars were also remembered. By 1890, every northern state had officially recognized May 30th to be a holiday for remembering veterans.

The north and south clung to the past for several decades, the north, more specifically New York, referring to Memorial Day as Decoration Day, the south choosing separate days in which to remember their veterans. President Lyndon Johnson officially proclaimed Waterloo, New York to be the official birthplace of Memorial Day and finally, in 1971, the past tensions between north and south were laid to rest, with a national proclamation naming the last Monday in May an official holiday for the remembrance of all United States Veterans.

Until the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; too many Americans had seemingly forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day; referring to it as a three day weekend celebration of commerce; the beginning of the summer season. A new wave of patriotism had enveloped the country, but of course, it was short lived. We, as a country, have become disjointed; our visions have become blurred by politicians and a new feared way of life.

Memorial Day was meant to celebrate the lives, and deaths of those who served the country, assuring that we would each forever enjoy the freedoms the Constitution guarantees each citizen of the United States. Those freedoms are slowly escaping us, making a mockery of the lives [and deaths] of those who selfishly gave their lives for future generations. It is time to take a good look at what is happening and decipher why. Don’t allow our veteran’s to have fought and died in vain; as an American citizen you not only have the right to vote, you have the duty to vote. One vote may not seem to be enough to make a difference, but if everyone who feels that their vote would not make a difference got placed a vote; millions of votes would be cast. Your vote matters; if your elected officials are not meeting the standards that you, don’t give him or her another two or four years to see if they can do a better job; vote them out! If you don’t like any candidate that is running; research both candidates, pick the lesser of the two evils. If you refuse to participate in elections, you are allowing your freedoms to be taken away and making a mockery of the lives of those who served in this country’s armed forces to preserve that right for you.

Do the right thing, participate in elections. Remember all of our veterans; past, present and future, give them the respect they deserve. Your participation in our local and national elections is a vote of confidence for each and every veteran who has ever served this country.