What war originally sparked the need for the U.S. Memorial Day Observance?

Memorial Day was a result of the Civil War and a desire to honor the nation's dead. It was officially proclaimed in May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11. “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,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as General Logan called it, is chosen because it did not concern the anniversary of any particular battle.

Today, Memorial Day, is a day of remembrance to honor the ultimate sacrifice of all Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces of America and all of its wars. With Memorial Day, America truly recognizes the countless number of individuals who sacrificed themselves to preserve the freedoms most Americans enjoy.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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7 Comments

Lawanta

My grandmother, who was born in 1902, used to call it "Decoration Day"... I think because of the flowers decorating the graves💝

Robert Oldenburg

Originally it was called decoration day. My grandfather called it that.

earlepg

During the Civil War, the nation lost 620,000 people. There were gatherings in both tbe South and the North to honor the dead. Three years after the war ended, Union veterans of an organization called the Grand Army of the Republic called for a national celebration. On May 30, 1858, the first Decoration Day was held at Arlington National Cemetery. With the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed in 1968, the Monday holiday was termed Memorial Day, and the celebration was expanded to include the dead from all the wars.