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A short history of Memorial Day

By
Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart Realty West CalBRE #01458572

Contact Jim Frimmer for all your San Diego real estate needsFort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, CaliforniaMemorial Day commemorates the men and women who died while serving in the American armed forces.

Originally known as Decoration Day, it was a day to honor those who died in the Civil War by decorating their graves.

The original proclamation was issued on May 5, 1868, by General John Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former military personnel:

USS Midway Museum, San Diego, California“The 30th 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. 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.”

During the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield spoke at Arlington National Cemetery, after which about 5,000 people decorated the graves of 20,000 soldiers from the Union and Confederate armies who were buried in the cemetery. Today, Memorial Day is observed at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony whereby a small American flag is placed on each grave.

USS Midway Museum, San Diego, CaliforniaAlthough the first Decoration Day was held in May 1868, it wouldn't be until 1971 that Memorial Day became an official federal holiday that now falls on the last Monday in May. The 1868 observance was inspired by local observances in several towns throughout America that lay claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day, including Columbus, Mississippi; Macon, Georgia; Richmond, Virginia; Boalsburg, Pennsylvania; and Carbondale, Illinois.

However, in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, to be the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo, which first observed the day on May 5, 1866, was chosen because it had made Memorial Day an annual, community-wide event; businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

Old GloryIt wasn't until after World War I that observances began to honor those who had died in all of America's wars and not just the Civil War.

The difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day, November 11 each year, is that Memorial Day honors the dead and Veterans Day recognizes the living while also honoring the dead. Several Southern states have a special day for honoring the Confederate dead of the Civil War. Seems that even in honoring our nation's military dead, we can't agree on how or when to honor and recognize them.

Here in San Diego, Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer, the start of tourist season, and the weekend when a preponderance of Arizona license plates start showing up on our cool beaches in order to escape the Arizona heat.

My father is buried in the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.

Old Glory 

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Comments (10)

Maria Morton
Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

Jim, nice article on the history of Memorial Day.  I hope you get to enjoy the weekend - maybe put some flowers on your father's grave.

May 30, 2010 08:20 AM
Ann Allen Hoover
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

Jim, thanks for posting all this information and thanks to your dad for his service.  Hope you and Russel have a wonderful weekend!

May 30, 2010 08:21 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Jim, it is refreshing to see someone who actually understands what Memorial Day is all about. I heared on the news yesterday that 50% of the people now think all it is is start of summer. As an Airborne Ranger Infantry person I find it sad how short our memories are. Thank you for a great post. Have a great weekend.

May 30, 2010 08:24 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Jim, hope your Memorial Day weekend is going to be great.  We'll be attending the ceremony at our local VFW just around the corner.

May 30, 2010 08:47 AM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Happy Memorial day to you and Russel, Jim. Thank you for the history of the day. Didn't know it was only called Memorial Day since '71. Did not know it was Decoration Day before that, maybe that is why we see so many private homes displaying the flag and banners.  

May 30, 2010 09:21 AM
Nevin Williams
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation - Cary, NC
Senior Mortgage Advisor

Jim - fantastic blog.  On behalf of all veterans we thank you for taking the time to write this. I never knew the detailed history behind this holiday. Not to be negative but I wonder how many people actually take the time to pause and reflect thanks for the biggest sacrifice of our war dead.  I think a lot of people only think about a 3 day weekend and don't even do something as simple as flying a flag in front of their house as a sign of thanks.

May 30, 2010 11:52 AM
Carra Riley & Declan Kenyon
Brokers Guild Cherry Creek Ltd - Westminster, CO
Helping people Transition at all ages!

Jim...I really enjoyed your history lesson on Memorial Day.  Thank you for posting it.

cosmic cow

May 31, 2010 05:07 AM
Liz Flint
Century 21 Hardee-Team Realty - Houston, TX
Houston\Tomball Realtor (832)816-8066

Hey Jim, I didn't know that the holiday started in 1971.  Thanks for the history lesson.

Jun 08, 2010 09:08 AM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

Hey, Everyone - Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment.

I'm trying to catch up on all my blog posts since I've been neglecting the, for good cause, though, since I've been busy.

Since this post is quite old, I won't respond to each and every comment. Rather, I'll read through all the comments and respond to any that have questions or otherwise need a response.

I'll also be by your blog soon to return the favor by reading your posts and leaving comments, too. Do unto others as they have already done unto you. lol

Again, thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. Make it a great day, a great week, a great month, and finish out 2010 on a natural high!

Jun 08, 2010 04:03 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Jim,

It is always great to point out the history of memorial day.  Many tend to forget.  In our hamlet of Armonk we still have a parade and remembrance on the 30th.  The parade ends at the VFW hall.

May 25, 2013 02:33 PM