By: BHS Features Staff
May 22, 2024
Memorial Day is a federal holiday that is celebrated on the last Monday of May. It is America’s annual remembrance to honor and mourn the fallen men and women who have served in the U.S. military.
Memorial Day was not always called Memorial Day; it was originally known as Decoration Day. On May 5, 1868, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), which was a politically-powerful organization of Union veterans, was led by Major General John A. Logan. He issued an order known as the “Memorial Day Act”. This act established “Memorial Day” as Decoration Day, a day for the United States to remember those who have passed in the line of duty and to decorate their graves with flowers.
The GAR placed an order for Memorial Day to be held on May 30 to ensure the availability of “the choicest flowers of Springtime” all over the country.
As years went on, Decoration Day fizzled out and became known as Memorial Day. It continued into the late nineteenth and early twentieth century as a Patriotic holiday. After World War I, Memorial Day was expanded to honor those who have passed away in the line of duty in any American War.
In 1966, the U.S. government officially recognized Memorial Day events being held on May 30 in Waterloo, New York. So, the federal government declared it as the birthplace of Memorial Day. The Union Monday Holiday Act then moved the national holiday from the 30th of May to the last Monday in May.
This upcoming Monday, we celebrate Memorial Day to pay homage to the selfless soldiers who died for us and for our many freedoms. It is not just a day to grill, swim, or congregate with family and friends. While those activities are all good, take some time to reflect and say thank you to those who willingly sacrificed their lives for ours. Wave your American flags proudly.
Happy Memorial Day, everyone!
{Information for this article was retrieved from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.}
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 