Memorial Day isn’t a day of mourning – it’s a day of celebration. We, in the Western World, sometimes take for granted the lifestyle we have – the democracy, the freedom. But we need to take the time on Memorial Day to remember why we have this freedom, and who was responsible for giving it to us. So, to inspire you to do that, we’ll look at the history of Memorial Day, and why it still remains as a special day of the year.
The Civil War’s dead are remembered – but where and when?
There’s some controversy surrounding the beginning of Memorial Day. There are probably more than two dozen cities claiming to be the first to observe this day of remembering those who died in battle. Actually, the day wasn’t called Memorial Day back then. It was known as Decoration Day. So here’s how it all started.
If you look at Duke University’s library of Historic American Sheet Music, you’ll find a copy of a hymn written in 1867 by a woman named Nella L. Sweet, called “Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping”. The hymn was dedicated “To the Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead”.
But the ladies didn’t start doing this on their own. In 1866, they were given the idea by Henry C. Welles, a druggist in Waterloo, NY. In appreciation of the sacrifices made by those who died in the Civil War, Welles suggested that decorating their graves would be a respectful way to honor and remember them.
Welles motion was seconded by John B. Murray, the Seneca County Clerk, who formed a committee to plan the day. They chose May 5 for Decoration Day, when flags would be flown at half mast, and the graves of the dead would be decorated with flowers, wreaths, and crosses.
Decoration Day becomes official
A couple of years later, on Decoration Day – May 5, 1868 – General John Logan, of the Grand Army of the Republic, introduced General Order No. 11, making Decoration Day official.
General Order No. 11 stated: “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.”
Arlington National Cemetery was the resting place of over 20,000 soldiers from both sides of the war. It became the central meeting place for those observing Decoration Day. At the first Decoration Day there, General James Garfield presented a speech to the more than 5,000 participants, after which they all decorated the graves.
The observance of the Decoration Day holiday quickly spread throughout the country. New York was the first state to officially recognize it, and by 1890 all the other northern states had joined in.
The Southern states, probably still holding a grudge against the North, refused to follow the Northern states in their Decoration Day observances. They chose, instead, to honor their dead in their own way, and on their own day. And that’s the way it stayed until 1882.
Decoration Day becomes Memorial Day
In 1882, it became the desire of some, to honor not just those who died in the Civil War, but in other wars, too. After all, they had all fought for the same thing – freedom for their people – and they should all be honored and respected accordingly.
So, using the word “memory” for a basis, they changed the name of Decoration Day to Memorial Day. Memorial Day became the day to remember and honor those who died for their country.
At this point, the Southern states joined in the Memorial Day holiday observance, recognizing that it was important to honor all those who’d died in any war.
In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson named Waterloo, NY, the official birthplace of Memorial Day. After all, that was where Henry Welles and John Murray had instituted Decoration Day. And Arlington National Cemetery became the place for annual national Memorial Day services, which still includes a speech by the President or Vice-President, followed by the placement of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Memorial Day remained that way until Congress passed the National Holiday Act of 1971, which stretched the holiday into a three-day weekend, to be observed on the last Monday in May. To this day, many veterans are upset about this. They say that this waters down the significance of Memorial Day. That’s obviously true, because now many people look at the Memorial Day Weekend as a kickoff to summer. They go off to picnics, taking their baseball equipment to the park, or their camping equipment to the forest, or their golf equipment to the golf course.
However, there is a movement to restore the real meaning of Memorial Day. For example, in December, 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance was passed, stating that, at 3pm, local time, all Americans should “voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to Taps.”
And in 2004, the first Memorial Day parade in more than 60 years was held in Washington D.C. So a return to the original spirit of honor and respect for the fallen in battle is emerging. And so it should! We wouldn’t have the freedom we have unless thousands of people hadn’t sacrificed their lives to protect our way of life.
Memorial Day brings poppies
A Memorial Day custom that also involves decorating, although not the decorating of graves, is the wearing of poppies. And that custom began in 1915 when Moina Michael read “In Flanders Fields”. She was inspired by this poem, and wrote one of her own, which suggested that the poppies growing in Flanders Fields represented the eternal “blood of heroes”, shed for freedom.
Moina thought it would be appropriate to wear the red poppies on Memorial Day, so she sold some to her friends and co-workers, and donated the money to needy servicemen. This idea of selling poppies to benefit people who suffered from the effects of war caught on, especially with a Madam Guerin, who was visiting the U.S. from France.
Madam Guerin went back home and made artificial red poppies, which she sold and, similar to Moina, donated the money to needy people. Other countries soon adopted the practice of selling poppies. Then, in 1922, she took the idea to the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), who took up the job of selling poppies to help commemorate Memorial Day.
The VFW took this opportunity to expand the poppy program. They got disabled veterans to make artificial poppies, sold them, and used the proceeds to benefit the veterans. This is another way you can thank those who fought for your freedom in a war. Buy a poppy for Memorial Day.
Take Memorial Day seriously – but have fun!
The purpose of Memorial Day is to honor those who died fighting for their country. It’s a day to give respect for the dead. And it’s a day to thank them for what they’ve given you.
Without the sacrifices they made, you might not have the opportunity to celebrate Memorial Day. You might not be experiencing the free lifestyle of western civilization. Stop for a minute and think about what your life might be like if events had turned the other way. Think about where you might be today, and what you might be doing.
So go out and have fun on your Memorial Day weekend, but don’t forget what the holiday is really for. You have a lot to be thankful for. You have a lot that you should be grateful for. And you should show that gratitude every year on Memorial Day. So buy that poppy every year. Observe that moment of remembrance every year. And if you know someone who died in the war, put a bouquet of flowers on their grave.
Spend Memorial Day thinking about, and thanking, those who gave their lives – “Lest we forget”.
About The Author
Gareth Marples is a successful freelance copywriter providing valuable tips and advice for consumers. His numerous articles offer moneysaving tips and valuable insight on typically confusing topics.
