Although there should be many a day where our nation honors its brave soldiers, Memorial Day, celebrated on May 26th this year, is a day of remembrance for all who have served our nation. It is originally referred to as "Decoration Day" because it is rumored that ladies of the South, after the Civil War ending in 1865, decorated the graves of the Confederate soldiers who lost their lives in the four-year war.
The holiday itself was officially proclaimed as such on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, the national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. Originally, the holiday was celebrated (at least in its first year, on May 30, 1868) by placing flowers upon graves of Confederate and Union soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery, located in the Washington, D.C. The newly-established states did not begin recognizing the holiday until 1873, when New York was the first to step forward. About seventeen years later, all northern states were celebrating the annual holiday. The southern states refused to begin recognizing the holiday, and instead, celebrated on their own designated day up until World War I in the early 1900's, when the nation as a whole began recognizing the soldiers that gave their lives in any war, instead of just the Civil war.
The holiday itself was officially proclaimed as such on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, the national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. Originally, the holiday was celebrated (at least in its first year, on May 30, 1868) by placing flowers upon graves of Confederate and Union soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery, located in the Washington, D.C. The newly-established states did not begin recognizing the holiday until 1873, when New York was the first to step forward. About seventeen years later, all northern states were celebrating the annual holiday. The southern states refused to begin recognizing the holiday, and instead, celebrated on their own designated day up until World War I in the early 1900's, when the nation as a whole began recognizing the soldiers that gave their lives in any war, instead of just the Civil war.
that it's about more than a day off work/school.