by Paul Salzer
Well, Memorial Day 2011 is officially in the record books. For many Americans, Memorial Day is just another holiday—a day of picnics, parades, concerts, movies, and that famous car race on television. To some, it is also the day to wheel out the ol’ Weber grill and to get in touch with our inner cave dweller after dumping a gallon of lighter fluid over the charcoals. But how many of us truly know what the holiday represents? What were the motivations that brought about this day of remembrance?
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the precursor to Memorial Day was established on May 5, 1868 by Maj. General John A. Logan and was originally called Decoration Day. In his General Order No. 11, General Logan declared that May 30th be set aside each year 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…” Strangely, May 30th was not a day to remember a great battle that took place, or to commemorate the birth of some great hero. It is not entirely clear why May 30th was chosen, but it is believed that it had to do with flowers being in bloom around the country at that time.
This was three years following the Civil War in America, and the nation still grieved over the many lives lost. As a result, towns from both the North and South have claimed to have originated the idea of commemorating the fallen soldiers of the war. Some of these towns and cities even cite tributes as early as even 1866. As many as 25 different places have called themselves the birthplace of Memorial Day. In 1966, however, Waterloo, New York, was official given that honor through congressional declaration. This distinction was given because other observances in other places were considered informal at the time and/or were not annually celebrated by the entire community. There was also a notable connection to General Logan (founder of Decoration Day) to one of Waterloo’s prominent citizens.
Decoration Day was originally strictly a day to remember the soldiers of the Civil War. It wasn’t until the end of World War I that it included soldiers of all American wars. Although Decoration Day gradually became known as Memorial Day; it wasn’t until 1971, that Memorial Day was officially declared a federal holiday by Congress. That was also when the holiday was moved from the 30th of May to the last Monday in May, although some states like Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama have special separate observances on other days.
On December 2000, Congress also passed, “The National Moment of Remembrance Act”, which created a White House commission that focuses on coordinating events commemorating the soldiers of American wars. Also created was the National Moment of Remembrance which encourages us to pause for a moment of silence at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day each year.
Another fitting tribute to soldiers on Memorial Day is placing flags at half-staff until noon on that day. This is in honor of the men and woman who gave their lives serving in our armed services. At noon, the flags are returned to full mast to represent that the living remembers the sacrifices that those men and woman gave. It is a reminder to those remaining that we will, according to Wikipedia, “rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.”
Sources Cited:
Memorial Day History
Memorial Day History – Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs
Memorial Day – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Memorial Day – History.com Articles, Video, Pictures and Facts
*Photo Credit – Nelda Hargo/Frank Madill
