The History of Memorial Day

A friend at work today told me about how Memorial Day first started and I thought it was interesting enough to do a post about. So I came home to look it up and the first thing that popped up was Snopes.


My friend said that Memorial Day was started by former slaves on May, 1, 1865 in Charleston, SC when they honored 257 dead Union Soldiers who had been buried in a mass grave in a Confederate prison camp. 

She told me that the 257 bodies were reburied to give them a decent burial and that it took the former slaves 2 weeks.

Afterwards they had a parade to celebrate and in gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice the people had given in fighting for their freedom.

Memorial Day was started by former slaves on May, 1, 1865 in Charleston, SC to honor 257 dead Union Soldiers who had been buried in a mass grave in a Confederate prison camp. They dug up the bodies and worked for 2 weeks to give them a proper burial as gratitude for fighting for their freedom. They then held a parade of 10,000 people led by 2,800 Black children where they marched, sang and celebrated.
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/military/memorialday.asp#6guYoy6Qt2s4zvsF.99

Memorial Day was started by former slaves on May, 1, 1865 in Charleston, SC to honor 257 dead Union Soldiers who had been buried in a mass grave in a Confederate prison camp. They dug up the bodies and worked for 2 weeks to give them a proper burial as gratitude for fighting for their freedom. They then held a parade of 10,000 people led by 2,800 Black children where they marched, sang and celebrated.
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/military/memorialday.asp#6guYoy6Qt2s4zvsF.99

Happy Decoration Day!

Well that's what it used to be called. Today it's known as Memorial Day and we celebrate it on the last Monday of May. Really "celebrate" is a strange word because the day is meant to remember fallen military personnel. A time to stop and think of men and women who have died while in military service to the US.

It's really a somber celebration - but it also marks the start of the summer vacation season!!! With BBQs and picnics - I can only hope the weather will cooperate here in the PacNW.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and maybe stop for a moment to remember. . .

MEMORIAL DAY - the history behind the day

The purpose of all war is ultimately peace.
--Saint Augustine

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It began as a day to remember the men who died in service to our nation.

Many stories exist about how the celebration began. Over two dozen cities and towns lay claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day.

But before the day was proclaimed a National Holiday, women's groups were decorating graves of soldiers. They were decorating graves before the end of the Civil war.

Memorial Day was officially announced on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan the National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Waterloo NY was officially named the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May of 1966.

After World War I the holiday changed from just remembering the dead who fought in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.

Most families celebrate by remembering their loved family members who have died. And go to the cemeteries to put flowers on their graves.

In Flanders Fields, Moina Michael had her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies

She had people start wearing red poppies on Memorial day to honor those people who died serving the country in war. In 1948 Ms. Michael was honored for her idea by the US Post Office who issued a red 3 cent postage stamp with her on the front of it.

Since the 1950's small American flags are put on more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery in commemoration of the soldier's service. The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts also place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers who have been buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.

The Day is often celebrated today by hanging a flag (as we did on our house) and with a family picnic or BBQ. I hope you all have a day filled with time spent with family and friends - and a moment to remember lost loved ones.