How well do you know Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. While most of us will probably have the day off from our normal Monday routine, many are unaware the true meaning of this recognized holiday or it’s origin.
In addition to the history of his holiday, there are a number of things you might not know about Memorial Day. Here are 12 of them:
- The Civil War is the reason Memorial Day was established. Approximately 620,000 soldiers on both sides died, and this loss of life and its effect on communities throughout the country is why the holiday began.
- Memorial Day was originally known as “Decoration Day.” That’s because the burial sites of Civil War soldiers were decorated with flowers on this day.
- Because the Civil War had torn the country apart so badly, separate Memorial Days were originally celebrated in the North and South.
- The first observance of Memorial Day is said to have occurred at Waterloo, New York in 1866.
- Following the Civil War, General John A. Logan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, decided that the annual commemoration of fallen soldiers should be held on May 30 each year. In 1971, the holiday was moved to the last Monday in May to ensure a long weekend.
- Memorial Day was established as an official holiday in 1968 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Uniform Monday Holiday Law recognizing a number of legal public holidays.
- At 11 a.m. each Memorial Day, Americans are encouraged to pray for peace.
- The exact “National Moment of Remembrance” is 3 p.m. on Memorial Day, established in 2000 by President Bill Clinton.
- An annual National Memorial Day Concert is held on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
- Memorial Day customs that are generally followed in America include flying the flag at half-mast until noon, then raising it to the top of the staff until sunset.
- It has became a tradition to wear red poppies to honor those who have died in war.
- “Taps” is a bugle call often played on Memorial Day and during other flag ceremonies or military funerals. Some historians believe it was borrowed by Union Brigadier General Daniel from a French bugle song titled “Tattoo.”
If you have any other Memorial Day factoids you’d like to share, feel free to add a comment below.
17 Comments
With 17 veterans in my family that all served during wartime, none died and only one was injured. He stopped on a land mine in Vietnam and he had only a few shrapnel injuries. I have recently learned that being the daughter of two vets is rare. In WWII Dad flew weather recon with the Atlantic Air Wing and Mom served as a nurse in the Army nurse Corp.
Wasn’t Memorial day originally began by People of Color here in the U.S. after the end of the Civil War?
I think all schoolchildren should be taught this instead of some of the falsehoods they are often taught.
May God Bless America
Copied from a friend : Memorial Day is the special day each year we honor our fallen soldiers. We are familiar with its official beginning by US Gen. John Logan in 1868, designating May 30, 1868 as “National Decoration Day”, and then it later became known as “Memorial Day”. After the “National Holiday Act” was passed by Congress in 1971, Memorial Day is now observed in almost every state on the last Monday in May. This year it is this coming Monday, May 28.
Did you know how Gen. Logan got the idea for this special day to honor our fallen soldiers? We can thank the ladies for that.
Gen. Logan gives credit to his wonderful wife for encouraging him to declare the “National Decoration Day”. When a lady has a good idea and tells her husband it needs to be done, well, you know it will be done pretty quick. No husband wants to join the list of “husbands who accidentally smothered themselves with their pillow while sleeping”. ;-)
We can thank Mrs. Logan for putting Gen. Logan in motion, and we can give credit to Miss Nora Fontaine Maury Davidson of Petersburg, VA for being the inspiration for Mrs. Logan’s interest in a “National Decoration Day”. During a visit to Petersburg in 1868, Mrs. Logan heard about Miss Davidson’s yearly grave decoration event and went to see the beautifully decorated Blandford Cemetery. All across the South, and many places in the North, the ladies went to the cemeteries in the springtime each year and decorated the soldiers’ graves with flowers. Miss Davidson was one of the many ladies who actively took part in what was known as “Decoration Day” in the South. Mrs. Logan gave glowing praise to Miss Davidson’s efforts and cited her example while persuading Gen. Logan to declare a “National Decoration Day”. http://www.petersburgexpress.com/MemorialNoraStory.html
At this page, please note the link to Mrs. Logan’s own writings about Miss Davidson’s excellent and inspiring grave decoration efforts.
In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael replied with her own poem:
“We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.”
Ms. Michael then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Then a lady named Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms. Michael. When she returned to France she made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children’s League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help.
Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans’ organization to sell poppies nationwide. Two years later their “Buddy Poppy” program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans, and it is still going strong today. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms. Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.
Let us thank the ladies of America for this solemn occasion to honor our fallen soldiers. Thank you, ladies!
http://www.usmemorialday.org/?page_id=2
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While it is not recorded anywhere that I can find, I would imagine that the conversation in 1868 between Mr. and Mrs. Logan about the idea of a National Decoration Day went something like this:
Mrs. Logan: “John, dear, I was visiting Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg yesterday and saw the most beautiful decorations of flowers upon the soldiers’ graves there. The Southern ladies have taken it upon themselves to show such admirable respect for their deceased soldiers. We should do the same in the entire nation, don’t you think?”
Gen. Logan: “What are you talking about?”
Mrs. Logan (fixing him with a steely stare) : “John, listen carefully. We need to show the same honor for our men who died in that war, the same way the Southern ladies do. We need to have a day set aside for remembering and honoring them. We will call it National Decoration Day. And you will make the proposal to the government and make sure it happens.”
Gen. Logan (feeling the impending storm approaching) : “I suppose that would be a good idea, dear. I will make some inquiries and get back to you.”
Mrs. Logan: “Today, John. Today.”
Gen. Logan stands up, reaches for his hat and coat and walks toward the door. He says nothing but is thinking “Silly womenfolk, wanting everything to stop in its tracks when they get some dumb idea they want done. National Decoration Day? We have better things to do than …”
Mrs. Logan: “I know what you’re thinking, John. This is the greatest idea I have ever had and you will do all you can to make it a reality, won’t you, John?”
Gen. Logan: “Yes, dear.” He walks to HQ where he has his staff write an appropriate order and research the calendar to see which day was void of battles or other war-related events. May 30 is proposed. At lunch, Gen. Logan asks Mrs. Logan if May 30 would be a good day; she thinks for a few moments then gives her approval. Gen. Logan thinks to himself, “Phew. I get to live another day.” Mrs. Logan smiles and says nothing.
And so it became National Decoration Day.
The Civil War general responsible for “Taps” was Daniel Butterfield, who was known for composing bugle calls. In the film “Gettysburg”, Lt. Tom Chamberlain, the brother of Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the hero of Little Round Top, explains to another soldier how the confusion of different brigades’ bugle calls in battle led Butterfield to compose a “special” call for his brigade that his troops would recognize as their own. Unlike most films about the Civil War, the producers and director of “Gettysburg” consulted with historians and knowledgeable re-enactor groups, using some of the best units in the film itself for the sake of authenticity. I have read extensively on the war, and other historical sources all attribute “Taps” to Butterfield, who originally intended it as a “calming” piece that would settle soldiers down at the end of a long day of marching or fighting.
Thank you for reminding me of the history of our nation’s most important holiday.
To Frank Bates: Thank you, Sir, for taking the time to publish your blog for all to see as it is an excellent educational tool and should be, in my NOT so humble opinion, mandatory reading in grammar and/or high school classes throughout the land but oh, that’s right, they’re no longer teaching Civics in most American schools these days…….what a pity!
I’m a 100% disabled, total & permanent, service connected, 74 year old Vietnam combat Veteran as I was a U. S. Army Ranger (Airborne) in the jungles of the Central Highlands in 1967 & 1968 and saw a hell of a lot of war and man’s inhumanity to man and it’s NEVER a pretty sight!
On days like Memorial Day, Veterans Day, the 4th of July, Armed Forces Day and others, I participate with the Patriot Guard Riders by visiting Veterans gravesites and placing flags at the graves of Veterans who have made the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE for their country and countrymen, with their LIVES so, if it weren’t for the likes of all of them and all those who are serving today, Americans might very well be speaking German or Russian or Chinese today but that just ain’t gonna happen because of an extremely strong defense by the USA! God Bless our Founding Fathers for their extremely clear foresight, God Bless the Constitution, Cod Bless Christianity & God Bless America!
(P.S. Frank, in line 10 you said “flying the flag at half-mast” but a mast is only on a SHIP so that line should be changed to “flying the flag at half-staff” until noon).
Thanks much, Bob Stack
Thank you so much for your service, Bob!
You missed it, Frank, but here is the Truth. Thx.
The ‘ROOTS’ of Memorial Day
As the War For Southron Independence flared to a rage, fighting occurred around the Arlington, Virginia home of General & Mrs. Robert E. Lee. Mrs. Lee had been particularly proud of her rose bushes, and she could only imagine so many fallen men there, and damage to their home. The yankee commanders holding Arlington surveyed their own scores of dead, and hatched a plan to “get back” at the General, and his lady. They would bury all the union troops they could, around, and within the Lee home grounds. Even in her garden! So they did.
Yet, that terrible summer, the roses bloomed like never before. Folks began to whisper that it was the blood of the men, which watered & sustained those roses. The yankee officers could not know the true heartfelt thoughts of the Lees, who bore no hate. Throughout the entire war, the worst thing Gen. Lee ever said about the enemy, was to call them: “Those People”. He also remarked: “I can only say that I am a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone, and that I need all the prayers that you can offer for me”.
April & May, 1865 brought a sad close to a long war. Since most of the fighting was in the South, there were dead boys everywhere; in your garden, on your porch, in the streets, slumped in your barn, or chicken house, in lakes, rivers, and creeks, down wells, and some fell on kitchen floors. You also probably weren’t told, that many of the 40-60 THOUSAND, Black Confederates were also among the slain. Infantry, cavalry, artillery gunners, skilled sharpshooters, sailors, along with body servants, teamsters, and laborers; slave & free. They mustered alongside American Indians, Hispanics, and mixed-bloods. Yes, even Black Confederate officers! Perhaps the most sorrowful epitaph, was that most-all these men, were hastily buried,…or not at all.
Though many survivors had so little to eat, for such hard labor, it was Southron ladies who first took to the proper burial of their own fallen. Among themselves, they soon reasoned: “Well, so many of these yankee boys will never be brought home, to their mothers, wives, or sweethearts, so we’ll make a decent, final, rest for them also, right here.” They set about doing so.
For the Southron dead, they set apart a May day each year, for an honoring remembrance. They called it Decoration Day, since they flower-decorated graves that day. The Northern ladies would come down to visit their Southron kinfolk, and others journeyed, to locate their fallen, Northern, loved ones. They all remarked what a “wondrous & beautiful thing, you are doing down here!” It was by such Labors of Love, that North-South wounds, finally began to heal. They returned Up North, to tell others, and do likewise. The years turned this into Memorial Day, for our nation, to honor all our uniformed, fallen heroes of national and foreign conflicts.
So don’t you allow the pulling of Confederate flags, off our graves. And if you learn in the public school, or the media, that this day, started somewhere else, well, they are mistaken. And now you know who-all gave us Arlington National Cemetery. So where will y’all be on Memorial Day, this year? *
May God Bless the USA,…and our valiant, Southron women!
Gary A. Hurd
Terry’s Texas Rangers; 8th Texas Cavalry
Platoon Sgt., 26th United States Cavalry Philippine Scouts, Horse
Erath County, Texas
*Read Black Confederates, by Charles Kelly Barrow; Pelican Publishing, 2001. 2. Paul Harvey’s Rest of the Story
3. The writer’s personal files, & family history via Black Confederate cavalry officers.
When i was a young girl in the small townof Marshsll, MO my grandmother collected many flowers from her gardens – peonies, gladiolas, roses, etc. She put them in large vases in her cool basement. On the next day, Memorial Day, we took the flowers to the cemetary and placed them by the tomstones of our family members who lay there. Also by the graves of fallen vets laid near our family. I fear this sweet tradition passed away with my grandmother.
Thank you Frank for this excellent explanation of the origins and history of Memorial Day – it was very helpful to me personally.
My son Lloyd Howard Jr
is a Vet. I would not disrespect him or anyone
weather they’re in the Arm Force or not.
He is a Marine!
Near the end of the Civil War, Robert E. Lee’s farm or plantation was confiscated by the Union Army for a place to bury the dead. Robert E. Lee’s property was in Arlington, Va. Today we know it as Arlington National Cemetery. Robert E. Lee was married to George Washington’s great granddaughter through an adoption in between as Washington’s Mount Vernon was approx. 10 miles south of Arlington
In the South they celebrate Decoration Day on the 1st Sat. in May. I believe that’s correct.
Just what I needed to hear this weekend.
GOD BLESS ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR AMERICA AND THE PEOPLE.. MAY THEY BE RESTING IN PEACE AND THEY WILL BE REMEMBERED ON THIS DAY AND ALWAYS…AND MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA…
Excellent, informative article. Thank you very much.