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The History of Memorial Day

The origins of Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was first named, are remote and mixed. In the mid 1860's, it appeared that the concept of "Decoration Day" was an idea whose time had come. The Civil War had left the nation divided and families fractured.

One inspiration for this holiday came when Civil War veterans saw a woman and her two children placing flowers on a soldier's grave. The veterans were so moved that they decided to do the same at other military graves. In other instances, women in the North and South, in a gesture of impartial generosity, decorated the graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers. Soon in cities, villages and hamlets across tile country, people gathered for prayer to honor the war dead and to lay flowers upon their graves.

In 1868, General John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, ordered that the 30th day of May be designated for this purpose. At least 25 groups and towns claimed to have originated the idea of decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. General James Garfield spoke at the first national observance of Memorial Day on May 30, 1868, in Arlington National Cemetery.

While this day was initially dedicated to remember those killed in the Civil War, with the passage of time Memorial Day has become an occasion to honor all those who died in service to the nation, from the Revolutionary War to the present. It was also seen as a time to rededicate ourselves to the ideals for which they gave their lives and to teach children the importance of remembrance. In 1968, the observance of Memorial Day was moved to the last Monday in May.

Just as Decoration Day was an idea whose time had come during the aftermath of the Civil War, the time has now come to put Memorial back into Memorial Day. The Michigan Soldiers' Aid Society is Proud to Remember all American soldiers "who gave the last full measure." !