On the last Monday of May each year, we gather to remember those who have fallen while safeguarding the American way of life. It’s become an important tradition in this country, but do you know how Memorial Day got its start?
Adorning the graves of fallen soldiers is an ancient custom, but it became popular in America soon after the end of the Civil War. More than 620,000 soldiers died in the conflict. And there were many more widows, family members and friends on both sides who sought some way to honor the ones they had lost.
It’s thought the first Memorial Day ceremony began in the south just a year after the war ended. Although there’s some disagreement by historians, many attribute the beginning to a ladies group in Columbus, Georgia. There are, however, more than 20 towns that claim to be the birthplace of the holiday.
By 1868, Memorial Day, known then as Decoration Day, was embraced by the whole country, partly due to the work of John A. Logan, commander and chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. Logan issued an order officially designating the holiday to take place May 30. It’s thought May was chosen because of its profusion of blooming flowers.
Former Union General—and later U.S. president—James A. Garfield spoke to thousands that same year at the first national Memorial Day ceremony held at Arlington National Cemetery.
“For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts and made immortal their patriotism and valor,” he said.
With flowers in hand, attendees at that ceremony decorated the graves of some 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.
But Memorial Day still wasn’t a legal holiday, though its popularity in different parts of the country continued to grow. After World War I, Memorial Day became an occasion to honor fallen soldiers of all American conflicts, not just the Civil War.
In 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This set certain legal holidays to take place on Mondays. Memorial Day was officially set for the last Monday of each May. It’s stayed that way ever since.
From the days of the American Revolution, almost 42 million Americans have served in the military during the wars we’ve been involved in. More than 1.2 million of those soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice. Veteran Energy honors their memory, and we’ll continue to do our part for the veterans and military personnel who are still with us today.
