The Origins And True Meaning Of Memorial Day [VIDEOS]

The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive history and explain the true meaning behind Memorial Day in the United States. Memorial Day is a federal holiday dedicated to honoring the American service members who have died in military service. While the holiday is now a popular occasion for barbeques and the start of summer, many people don’t know the origins of Memorial Day and how it came to be.

This article will trace the history of Memorial Day from its earliest commemorations after the Civil War to how it became an official federal holiday. The traditions, evolution of the holiday’s name, and the important purpose Memorial Day serves will all be covered. Additionally, the article will explain how Memorial Day differs from Veterans Day in the United States. Understanding the powerful history and significance behind Memorial Day allows us to properly honor those Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

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Origins of Decoration Day

The origins of Memorial Day in the United States can be traced back to the years following the Civil War. In 1868, General John A. Logan, the leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans called the Grand Army of the Republic, issued a decree that May 30th should become known as Decoration Day, a day to decorate the graves of Union soldiers who died during the Civil War.

This first Decoration Day was inspired by local observances that had taken place in the years since the Civil War ended in 1865. Groups of women visited cemeteries and decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers, flags, wreaths and other tributes. General Logan envisioned Decoration Day as a way to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers by decorating their graves and holding public events.

The first large observance of Decoration Day was held that year on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery, which held the graves of many Union soldiers. General James Garfield gave a speech, volunteers decorated the graves, and children sang patriotic songs. Similar commemorations were held in cemeteries around the country in the following years as Decoration Day became an annual tradition.

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Decoration Day Spreads Nationwide

In the years following the Civil War, other towns and cities across America began holding tributes to the fallen soldiers of not only that war but all wars. The idea originated with the decoration of graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags in honor of those who had made the ultimate sacrifice in service of their country.

While Waterloo, New York, claims to have celebrated the first Decoration Day in 1866, the southern states also started their own commemorations. In April of 1866, women in Columbus, Mississippi, laid flowers on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers. In Jackson, Mississippi, a Decoration Day commemoration was held where flowers were placed on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers in the national cemetery there.

Over the next few years, more and more towns, north and south, began adopting the practice as they sought to honor those lost in battle. By the late 1860s, Decoration Day commemorations had become widespread and increasingly popular public events across much of the country. As the observance spread, its purpose grew from merely honoring Civil War soldiers to celebrating the sacrifice of all American veterans from every war.

Decoration Day Becomes Memorial Day

In 1868, General John A. Logan, the commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, called for a national day to honor those who died fighting in the Civil War. This event was known as Decoration Day and was observed on May 30th every year, when people would decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers.

Decoration Day was seen as a way to honor the enormous number of Civil War dead and was observed in both the North and South. However, over time, many felt the name did not properly reflect the meaning and purpose of the holiday. There was a push to change the name to Memorial Day to emphasize that the day is a solemn occasion to remember those who gave their lives in military service to their country.

In 1882, Decoration Day officially became known as Memorial Day. The name change helped unite Americans in shared remembrance and allowed Memorial Day to become a unifying national holiday. While Memorial Day originally honored those lost in the Civil War, it has since come to commemorate American veterans who died in all wars. The meaning behind the holiday remains the same – to solemnly honor the sacrifices of America’s fallen heroes.

Memorial Day Becomes a Federal Holiday

For over 100 years, Decoration Day (later called Memorial Day) was celebrated on May 30, regardless of the day of the week. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act to establish Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971.

This helped standardize the commemoration of Memorial Day across the country. While some states had already changed the date on their own, most states had been holding it on May 30 each year. The new federal law declared Memorial Day a national holiday to honor those who have died in American wars.

While some veterans organizations opposed changing the date from the traditional May 30, the late May date has allowed many more Americans to enjoy a long Memorial Day weekend and participate in commemorations. The extra day off work on the last Monday in May has enabled more people to visit cemeteries, attend Memorial Day parades and ceremonies, and decorate gravesites.

Traditions of Memorial Day

Memorial Day has several longstanding traditions that honor fallen service members and help Americans reflect on the meaning of the holiday:

Parades: Many communities hold parades on Memorial Day featuring marching bands, veterans groups, military vehicles, and floats. Some of the largest parades take place in major cities like New York, Chicago, and Washington DC. The National Memorial Day Parade in Washington DC hosts thousands of participants and spectators each year.

Visiting Cemeteries: It is customary on Memorial Day to visit cemeteries and memorials to pay respects to the fallen. Volunteers often place American flags and flowers on veterans’ graves. Arlington National Cemetery holds an annual memorial service on Memorial Day featuring speeches, wreath laying ceremonies, and musical tributes. Many Americans visit the gravesites of loved ones who served in the military.

Wearing Red Poppies: The red poppy flower became a symbol of remembrance because its seeds scattered widely across World War I battlefields in Europe. Many people wear an artificial red poppy on Memorial Day to commemorate those who died in service. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) distributes millions of red poppies on Memorial Day.

Difference from Veterans Day

Memorial Day and Veterans Day are both federal holidays in the United States that honor those who have served in the military, but they have different meanings.

Memorial Day honors military members who died while serving their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. The holiday originated after the Civil War as a way to commemorate soldiers who lost their lives in the war.

In contrast, Veterans Day honors all veterans – living or deceased – who served in any branch of the U.S. military. The holiday originated after World War I and was originally called Armistice Day, meant to honor the end of that war. In 1954, the holiday was renamed Veterans Day to honor veterans of all wars.

So while Memorial Day focuses on remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. Both holidays are a chance for Americans to honor those who served and to reflect on their bravery and sacrifice. But Memorial Day commemorates those we’ve lost in particular.

Wars Memorialized on Memorial Day

Memorial Day honors those who died while serving in the U.S. military. The holiday commemorates the sacrifices of members of the armed forces who lost their lives in defense of the nation. Here are some of the major wars remembered on Memorial Day:

Civil War: The Civil War was the bloodiest war in American history, resulting in over 600,000 deaths. Many Union and Confederate soldiers perished in the fighting, with disease also taking a heavy toll. Memorial Day originated as a way to commemorate fallen Civil War soldiers.

World War I: The First World War was the first major international war involving the United States. Over 116,000 American service members lost their lives in World War I between 1917-1918.

World War II: During World War II between 1941-1945, over 400,000 Americans died fighting against the Axis powers. The immense loss of life in WWII had a major impact on the country.

Korean War: The Korean War began in 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea. Over 36,000 American troops were killed in combat during the Korean War until an armistice was signed in 1953.

Vietnam War: In the Vietnam War between 1955-1975, more than 58,000 U.S. military members lost their lives. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. commemorates their sacrifice.

On Memorial Day, Americans pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in all of these wars to defend freedom and democracy. The holiday honors the memory of the nation’s war dead.

True Meaning of Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a solemn day of remembrance for the men and women who have lost their lives in service to the United States. While the three-day weekend has become known for cookouts and the unofficial start of summer, the true meaning of the holiday is to honor the ultimate sacrifice made by so many.

On Memorial Day, Americans pause to reflect on the courage and devotion demonstrated by the fallen members of the U.S. armed forces. We remember the lives cut short, the dreams unfulfilled, the families left behind. It is a poignant time to mourn those who answered the call of duty and never returned home.

The gravesites of those who died for their country are decorated with flags and flowers on Memorial Day as a gesture of gratitude. It is a day to contemplate the steep price of freedom and democracy. While the grief of losing loved ones endures, we find hope in their legacy of valor and sacrifice. Their spirit lives on in the continued work for justice and liberty.

Though it is difficult to measure loss, we strive on Memorial Day to give meaning to sacrifice. Honoring the fallen means being willing to bind up the nation’s wounds and pursue lasting peace. Memorial Day inspires us to reflect on how we can work to be worthy of the selflessness displayed by so many.

Conclusion

Memorial Day is a somber and reflective holiday that honors the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War as a way to decorate the graves of fallen Union and Confederate soldiers.

The holiday was first widely observed on May 30, 1868 when flowers were placed on the graves of Civil War soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. By the late 1800s, many states had adopted Memorial Day as an official holiday. After World War I, the holiday evolved to commemorate Americans who died fighting in all wars, not just the Civil War. It became more commonly known as Memorial Day by the early 1900s.

In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, establishing Memorial Day as the last Monday in May to create a three-day weekend. While many Americans celebrate the holiday weekend with barbecues, trips and retail sales, at its core Memorial Day is intended as a solemn day of remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives in military service.

On Memorial Day, volunteers often place American flags on the graves of military members in national cemeteries. Cities and towns host memorial ceremonies to honor those who fell in wars. Veterans organizations hold parades and events honoring deceased service members. Families, friends and communities gather to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect America’s freedom.

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