More Than a Long Weekend: The Real History of Memorial Day

Every year, the last Monday in May is Memorial Day in the United States—a summer beginning, family cookouts, and a day for processions. The long weekend is preceded by a solemn remembrance of all of the men and women who died while serving the country.

Beginnings: Heritage it is from a War between all Citizens
Memorial Day’s roots trace back to the aftermath of the American Civil War, one of the bloodiest conflicts within U.S. history, and it claimed over 600,000 lives. Grief across the nation rose as death increased greatly. Across this country, communities then honored all of the fallen, in addition they held informal ceremonies. These commemorations of the early period were very local and varied quite widely in both practice and date.

Newly freed African Americans, helped by Union troops, reburied Union soldiers on May 1, 1865, in Charleston, South Carolina, one of the earliest observances, after the soldiers died inside a Confederate prison camp, and they held a ceremony to honor their sacrifice. This is viewed as the first Memorial Day by some historians. However, this today is not very well known.

John A. Logan who was the general did formalize all these tributes as leader within the Grand Army of the Republic or GAR. With him in his role as a leader in a Union veterans' organization this formalization started at last. Logan gave to General Order No. on May 5, 1868. 11 thus urging a day for national remembrance. That year, May 30 would be on this day. He chose the date because flowers would bloom throughout the country it wasn’t a specific battle's anniversary.

This day initially called Decoration Day was named for the practice of decorating of soldiers’ graves with flags, wreaths, and also with flowers. In 1868 James A. Garfield who was then Congressman who would later preside spoke at Arlington National Cemetery at that first observance. More than 5,000 people were involved in decorating the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.

Civil War deaths alone were honored on Decoration Day. However, after World War I, the holiday did evolve so as to recognize American military personnel during that time. These personnel had died in each and all of the wars from the Revolution to and up to modern conflicts. In this time frame “Memorial Day” began growing into use, so people used it more often later.

Its first observance was more than a century before Memorial Day's official federal holiday recognition until 1971. Richard Nixon, president, signed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, so Memorial Day became a national holiday to be observed the last Monday of May ensuring a three-day weekend for federal employees which aligns with our modern holiday calendar.

Prior to this change, Memorial Day was yet observed by people. However, guaranteeing it as a day off work required an employer's voluntary provision. Most states coupled with employers began formally recognizing it near the late 20th century so it became a common paid holiday.

The federal government officially recognizes Waterloo, New York. Memorial Day had its start there actually. President Lyndon B. Johnson with Congress declared Waterloo observed that first community-wide consistent event on May 5, 1866 in 1966, one year before that Logan’s order.
In 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance got established so Americans pause for one minute of silence at 3:00 PM local time to remember service member deaths. This law got the signature of President Bill Clinton.
From "In Flanders Fields," Lt. Col. John McCrae's World War I poem, the red poppy turned into a remembrance symbol. Poppies are still used in the U.S. by groups like the American Legion Auxiliary though more common in Canada and the UK.
Memorial Day is often confused with Veterans Day even though it honors those who have died in service since Veterans Day celebrates all U.S. military veterans whether they are living or deceased.
Memorial Day is truly one of those few times in which each grave is marked with one flag inside the United States, in which place there are well over 135 national cemeteries, more particularly at places like Arlington National Cemetery, in which location well over 260,000 graves receive some flags placed there by that 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, along even with this.
Because of the fact that the state determines the date, quite a few Southern states do have their own Confederate Memorial Days too, and those days do honor Confederate soldiers specifically.
Memorial Day is at this point a huge weekend for travel a very busy time of each year. Because of all of this, millions of Americans hit on the road or take to the flights. At a quiet cemetery, visits are unlike the surge of travel that is taking place now.
Moving Memorial Day to a Monday nearly did not happen. Veterans groups did oppose the change of 1971 since they argued that its solemn purpose was diluted by turning it into a weekend of three days. Even at this time, some people still advocate for moving it back now. Moving it to May 30 would preserve the meaning.

The true purpose of Memorial Day involves national mourning with gratitude, even though modern observance includes barbecues, lake trips, and mattress sales. Lives lost when defending freedoms and war costs cause reflection.

Visiting cemeteries, attending parades, or participating in the National Moment of Remembrance are all ways to bring the holiday back. The holiday's intended focus can be gained this way.

Memorial Day can mean more than just a day off from work and stands as more of a deep reminder. It represents sacrifice as well as service with national unity. As we enjoy the freedoms and leisure this day often brings, we owe remembering to the fallen why it exists. Memorial Day keeps on developing from humble beginnings in the wake of a devastating civil war. This day should always be remembered since it is now a day for national thought.