The Staff of US Legacies would like to wish you a happy and safe Memorial Day.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nations Civil War dead by decorating their graves. Many cities and states lay claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. The true origin of Memorial Day is unknown.
Memorial day was officially proclaimed by General John Logan, May 5, 1868. The first Memorial Day was observed May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington Cemetery.
The first state to recognize the holiday officially was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day and honored their dead on separate days until after WWI (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died in fighting in any war.)
The holiday was changed by Congress in 1971 to insure a three-day weekend for Federal holidays. Some southern states have an additional separate holiday for honoring the Confederate War dead.
December 2000, in an attempt to re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution passed. This resolution asks that at 3 PM local time for all Americans “To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to taps.
While Veterans day is celebrated November 11th, honoring Veterans living and dead. We at US Legacies ask that you honor all Veterans year round. Let Veterans know how much we appreciate the sacrifices they have made, and continue to make for our freedom. Let them know the gratitude we feel for the time taken out of their lives, to insure our safety.
Researched and written by:
Rita Redd
Senior Editor
Published in U S Legacies Magazine May 2004
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