![]() In addition, several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19th in Texas April 26th in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi May 10th in South Carolina and June 3rd (Jefferson Davis’ birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee. This helped ensure a three day weekend ( Memorial Day Weekend) for Federal holidays. 90 – 363), it is now observed on the last Monday in May by almost every state. With the Congressional passage of the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. This went on until after World War I when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war. Differently, the South refused to acknowledge the day and honored their dead on separate days. It was recognized by all northern states by 1890. New York was the first state to officially recognize the holiday in 1873. On the first Decoration Day, 5,000 participants decorated the graves of 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried at Arlington Cemetery while General James Garfield made a historic speech. Part of the history of Memorial Day will show that in the Order, the General proclaimed, “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.” Because the day wasn't the anniversary of any particular battle, the General called it, The date of Decoration Day. On the 5th of May in 1868, General John Logan who was the national commander of the Grand Army of the republic, officially proclaimed it in his General Order No. Regardless of the location of origins or the exact date, one thing is crystal clear – Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War (which ended in 1865) and a desire to honor our dead. In May 1966, President Lyndon Johnson stepped in and officially declared Waterloo N.Y. It's difficult to prove the origins of this day as over two dozen towns and cities lay claim to be the birthplace. Take it upon yourself to do something selfless, just as the many men and women we celebrate on Memorial Day did.Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. Whether it’s a friend who needs a hand or an elderly neighbor, volunteering is a great way to pay it forward in a positive way, volunteering echoes the spirit of Memorial Day. for The National Moment of Remembrance.įor at least one minute, send your thanks, love, and prayers to active soldiers, veterans, and the many men and women who died serving our country.Įven if your schedule is super busy over the long weekend, you can still pay your respects to the fallen troops with a donation to Memorial Day Flowers ,Ī national foundation that places a flower on the graves of soldiers. No matter where you live, take a moment of silence at 3 p.m. If you have a flagpole, consider joining others in the country by lowering the flag half-mast from dawn until noon as a sign of respect. There’s never been a better time to embrace your patriotism and your yard will look great with those stars and stripes! Memorial Day is an excellent time to wave our red, white, and blue! Let the kids join in the fun and hang flags from the house and on the lawn. These activities help to remind everyone why we celebrate this Monday in May.īefore diving into your Memorial Day activities, teach your kids (and refresh your own memory) about the reason we celebrate Memorial Day and how it differs from Veteran's Day. Many of us look forward to Memorial Da y for the backyard barbecues and a three-day weekend, but it's important to remember what the holiday is about: honoring the men and women who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom.īefore you get the grill fired up, get everyone involved in these family-friendly activities. It’s a day to gather with friends and family and enjoy the warm weather. Memorial Day is almost upon us once again.įor millions of Americans, the holiday is a chance to remember those in the military who sacrificed their lives for our country.įor others, Memorial Day is also the official start of summer. ![]()
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