Americans have been sacrificing their lives in wars for a very long time, but it wasn't until 1868 that Memorial Day was first honored. In the Spring of that year Mary Logan visited a battle field in Virginia and had occasion to walk past a grave yard. She was struck by the flowers and flags that decorated the graves of fallen Southern soldiers and thought something like that should be done to honor Union soldiers, too.
She recounted her experience to her husband, General John A. Logan who was Commander in Chief of the Union army veterans organization. And according to Mrs. Logan's retelling in 1903, he was so impressed with the idea that he wanted to implement it right away. He and his aids selected May 30 as an appropriate day, and on May 5 he issued the order.
The 30th day 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 church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit. ...
While one source says that the day wasn't celebrated in the South until after WWI. In 1903 Mary Logan said otherwise:
Nearby the graves of the men who wore the blue are hundreds of mounds that cover all that was mortal of those who wore the gray, and it is one of the most beautiful traits of forgiving humanity that none of them are overlooked on the most sacred day in the American calendar. In Dixie they garland with one hand the mounds above the ashes of the northern soldiers while with the other they strew beautiful blosoms on the graves of their own heroes. We of the north do the same, for they were all heroes, each dying for the cause he thought was right. They gave their all to prove their sincerity, and they all died true Americans whatever their political affiliations may have been. ...
Since 1971 Memorial Day is celebrated on the last day of May. But regardless of the day of the month, we owe so much to those who gave their lives so that others may be free.
Happy Memorial Day, everyone.
Memorial day is not for mourning its the day that we celebrate heroes for their sacrifices to won the battle for freedom. For all soldiers I salute for your braveness.
Posted by: Memorial day | June 02, 2011 at 11:36 PM