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- Story Listed as: True Life For Adults
- Theme: Inspirational
- Subject: History / Historical
- Published: 05/24/2024
Some Gave All!
Born 1950, M, from Sparta, il, United StatesOn Memorial Day we remember those who have fallen in battle.
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, has its roots in the Civil War. It ended in the spring of 1865 and had claimed more lives than any other American war. Many families lost loved ones. Citizens began placing flowers on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers who had been killed in battle.
It is unclear, though, exactly where this tradition originated. Numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. Some historians claim that one of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations was organized by a group of former slaves on May 1, 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina. Thousands of newly freed Black people placed flowers on unmarked graves of captured Union soldiers who died there during captivity and held a parade to honor them.
The annual tradition of decorating fallen soldiers' graves with flags and flowers is believed to have originated in Waterloo, N.Y on May 5, 1866. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff. In 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day.
On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan called for a nationwide day of remembrance. He 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.”
The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.
The first national commemoration took place at Arlington on May 30, 1868, with General Ulysses S. Grant in attendance and General James Garfield as the featured speaker. 5,000 participants decorated the graves of 20,000 Civil War soldiers buried there. In many Northern states similar commemorative events were held.
By 1890 each one had made Decoration Day an official state holiday. Southern states, on the other hand, continued to honor the dead on separate days until after World War I.
During World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict. The holiday evolved into a commemoration of all American military personnel who died in all wars. Congress recognized Decoration Day as a federal holiday in 1938.
Decoration Day continued to be observed on May 30 until 1968 when congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. That Act established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.
We all know someone who died in battle protecting our shores. It isn’t all about the bar-b-ques and the swimming pools. Fly your flag. Take some time to remember those who have fallen to ensure you can enjoy the bar-b-que and the pool.
In honor of those who have selflessly given and valiantly served our Nation - We Thank You.
Some Gave All!(Ed DeRousse)
On Memorial Day we remember those who have fallen in battle.
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, has its roots in the Civil War. It ended in the spring of 1865 and had claimed more lives than any other American war. Many families lost loved ones. Citizens began placing flowers on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers who had been killed in battle.
It is unclear, though, exactly where this tradition originated. Numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. Some historians claim that one of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations was organized by a group of former slaves on May 1, 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina. Thousands of newly freed Black people placed flowers on unmarked graves of captured Union soldiers who died there during captivity and held a parade to honor them.
The annual tradition of decorating fallen soldiers' graves with flags and flowers is believed to have originated in Waterloo, N.Y on May 5, 1866. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff. In 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day.
On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan called for a nationwide day of remembrance. He 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.”
The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.
The first national commemoration took place at Arlington on May 30, 1868, with General Ulysses S. Grant in attendance and General James Garfield as the featured speaker. 5,000 participants decorated the graves of 20,000 Civil War soldiers buried there. In many Northern states similar commemorative events were held.
By 1890 each one had made Decoration Day an official state holiday. Southern states, on the other hand, continued to honor the dead on separate days until after World War I.
During World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict. The holiday evolved into a commemoration of all American military personnel who died in all wars. Congress recognized Decoration Day as a federal holiday in 1938.
Decoration Day continued to be observed on May 30 until 1968 when congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. That Act established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.
We all know someone who died in battle protecting our shores. It isn’t all about the bar-b-ques and the swimming pools. Fly your flag. Take some time to remember those who have fallen to ensure you can enjoy the bar-b-que and the pool.
In honor of those who have selflessly given and valiantly served our Nation - We Thank You.
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Cheryl Ryan
05/27/2024This is a great historical recap of the Memorial Day national holiday.
Well done and thank you for sharing!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Joel Kiula
05/27/2024A good way to learn history. I never knew the orign of such event, thank you for the information.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Shirley Smothers
05/27/2024Thank you for the history lesson. Lest we forget all who died serving their country. I knew some but not all. Your story fills in the blank soaces. Congratulations on Short Story Star of the Day.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Ed DeRousse
05/28/2024Thank you. It is important that we not forgot the past nor those who gave up all to insure we have a present and a future.
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