Sometimes it feels as if we will slap a name on any ole’ day just so we can throw a party. I’ve become extra curious lately about history and understanding why we do certain things within our society. So I did some digging and here is a very brief history of the Memorial Day holiday.
We have Waterloo, New York to thank as the birthplace of Memorial Day. Following the Civil War, people started gathering together in the Spring-time to decorate the graves of their fallen loved ones. However, nothing official took place until May 5, 1866 when Waterloo declared a public holiday, closed businesses and decorated the graves of their heroes.
A few years after that, the leader of an organization for Northern Cival War vets named General John A. Logan was quoted as saying “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.” This was the beginning of Decoration Day, and that particular date was chosen because it didn’t coincide with any specific battle anniversaries.
As things go, the date gradually became known as Memorial Day so it could encompass the fallen heroes of other wars. It continued to be celebrated on May 30th for decades, but in 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. And the official federal holiday of Memorial Day was born.
It’s good to understand traditions and where they come from. But it’s even better to understand the heart behind them. This isn’t just a day for grilling out and opening pools… it’s a time of gratitude and reflection. Freedom has never been free. We are so fortunate and owe such a heart-felt thanks to every fallen soldier who died protecting our land and our people.
While it doesn’t feel like quite enough or an adequate response to such a sacrifice…Thank you.
