There are various stories depicting how Memorial Day, first known as Decoration Day, got its start. One story suggests it started in 1867 when Nellie L. Sweet published a poem titled “Kneel Where Our Loves Are Sleeping” to honor those who had fallen during the Civil War. There was also a southern tradition where women would decorate the graves of those who had fallen.
Some of the towns that claimed to be the birthplace of Memorial Day are:
- Columbus, Mississsippi
- Macon, Georgia
- Richmond, Virginia
- Boalsburg, Pennsylvania
- Carbondale, Illinois
However, in 1866, Henry Welles, a drugstore owner in upstate New York, suggested that all shops close in commemoration of those who died during the War Between the States and buried in the Waterloo Cemetery. The townspeople recognized Welles’ suggestion and honored the Union soldiers’ by placing flowers, wreaths, and crosses on their graves. A hundred years later, President Lyndon B. Johnson recognized Waterloo as the official birthplace of Memorial Day.
First Official Memorial Day
On May 5, 1868, General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed a day of observation of the Union and Confederate soldiers who are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His Proclamation read as follows:
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.
President James Garfield spoke prior to those in attendance decorating the 20,000 graves of Union and Confederate soldiers.
In 1882, Decoration Day officially changed to Memorial Day.
By 1890, all the states observed Memorial Day, however, the south observed the holiday on a separate day from the north. The southern states changed their day of observance to match that of the north after World War I when the Proclamation changed to include all American wars on Memorial Day.
The Proclamation was changed once again in 1971 when Congress declared the last Monday of May Memorial Day instead of May 30.
The Meaning of the Poppy
In 1915, John McCrae wrote the poem “In Flanders Field” to honor a fallen comrade. The poem spoke of the poppies that blew between the crosses. When Moina Michael read the poem she responded with her own poem, “We Shall Keep the Faith”, and made the decision to wear the poppy in commemoration of those who died. The final stanza of her poem read
And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
Commemorating Memorial Day
Throughout the years, small towns all over the United States pay tribute to the fallen service men and women in many different ways, but it has become a sacred event each Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery.
Prior to the Day of Remembrance, present day soldiers and veterans put flags on each grave at Arlington National Cemetery. Then on the official day, The Commander in Chief with full honors places a wreath at the Unknown Soldiers Grave and gives a short speech in honor of those who fallen. The event is than followed with the playing of taps.
Sources:
The History Channel
CNN ~ Ten Facts about Memorial Day
The Great War ~ Website of the Moina Michael’s poem
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