Memorial Day in the USA

Memorial Day in the USA has a rich history rooted in the aftermath of the Civil War, evolving from a day to honor fallen soldiers to a federal holiday commemorating all who died in military service

Origins as Decoration Day:

Post-Civil War Tributes: The Civil War, which ended in 1865, resulted in an unprecedented number of American casualties’ Communities across the nation began holding local tributes to honor their war dead, decorating graves with flowers and flags.Many towns claim to be the “birthplace” of Memorial Day, with notable early observances occurring in places like Charleston, South Carolina (May 1, 1865, by freed slaves and white abolitionist allies), Columbus, Mississippi (April 25, 1866), and Waterloo, New York (May 5, 1866), which was later declared the official birthplace by the federal government in 1966.
General Logan’s Proclamation: On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, who was the head of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), an organization of Union veterans, issued General Order No. 11. This order designated May 30, 1868, as a day for “strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country. He chose May 30th because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle, allowing for broader observance. This day became widely known as “Decoration Day.”
First Widespread Observance: The first large-scale observance of Decoration Day took place on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery, with General James Garfield delivering a speech and approximately 5,000 participants decorating the graves of 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers.

Evolution and National Recognition:

Expanding Scope: Initially, Decoration Day primarily honored Civil War dead However, after World War I, the holiday expanded to commemorate American military personnel who died in all U.S. wars
Change to Memorial Day: The name “Decoration Day” gradually gave way to “Memorial Day,” and it became an official federal holiday in 1971 with the passage of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act
Moved to Last Monday in May: The Uniform Monday Holiday Act also moved Memorial Day from May 30th to the last Monday in May. This change was largely driven by the desire to create a three-day weekend for federal employees, which was also believed to boost the travel industry.

Today, Memorial Day is observed with parades, visits to cemeteries and memorials, and a general spirit of remembrance for those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States. While it also unofficially marks the beginning of summer, the core purpose of the holiday remains solemn reflection and honor.