History: Memorial Day

It’s been a long while since I’ve forced history upon you guys, here on my blog. Today seems fitting to change that.

It began as Decoration Day following the Civil War in 1868, when Union veterans declared it as a time for the nation to remember the dead by placing flowers on graves. For many years the Union and Confederate soldiers remembered their fallen on different days. They soon merged, and Memorial Day became a tradition to honor all Americans who died while in military service.

Volunteers place flags at each grave site in national cemeteries, but many other towns have also taken on the task of acknowledging their fallen in the same tradition. This day has become a popular day to hold reunions, reuniting families and honoring their loved ones. People come together on this designated day to place flowers and renew relationships with family and friends. They will host a potluck meal that is believed to date back before the Civil War which may be the origin of Memorial Day.

An interesting tidbit is that Warrenton, Virginia claims to have the first grave to be decorated, on June 3, 1861, implying the birth of Memorial Day. However, the next several years it was the women who decorated Confederate graves, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania that hosted a dedication ceremony. The following year it was the women in Baolsburg, PA and now they lay claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. (Now, not to take away from the serious honor this day holds, I’m confused as to how they can claim that when they were three years late to the party. One more note that I feel needs to be added: Of course it was the women.)

Now, what I find intriguing is that President Johnson signed a presidential proclamation in 1966 naming Waterloo, New York as the birthplace. It has something to do with a House Concurrent Resolution that officially recognized Waterloo for starting the patriotic tradition. (Maybe, as the President, he knew more than the rest of us?) Other cities that lay claim to beginning such a tradition are Boalsburg, PA, Carbondale, IL (um, what?), Columbus, GA and Columbus, MS. Even more intriguing is that a recent study investigating the Waterloo claim, along with all others, conludes that nearly all of them are doubtful. (Wait, you mean to tell me that someone who was close to Pres. Johnson told him Waterloo should be recognized as the birthplace, and he took them at their word? Yeah. There’s no reason to believe that people in high places are bought and paid for by favors and monetary funds.)

Memorial Day was observed on May 30th because it wasn’t an anniversary for any particular battles. It was first recognized by the southern states but quickly adopted by their northern neighbors. It didn’t become a common “holiday” until after WWII and it wasn’t until 1968 that it was moved to the last Monday; giving people a three day weekend.

The VFW stated in a 2002 Memorial Day Address:

“Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed a lot to the general public’s nonchalant observance of Memorial Day.” 

According to Wikipedia (written and edited by anyone, stupid and smart alike):

“Ironton, OH lays claim to the nation’s oldest continuously running Memorial Day parade. Its first parade was              held May 5, 1868, and the town has held it every year since; however, the Memorial Day parade in Doylestown,            PA, predates Ironton’s by one year.” 

(I think Ironton has some explaining to do! How can it be the oldest running parade if Doylestown started a year earlier? My initial thought was that the key words were “oldest continuously running” but Doylestown host an annual parade.)

I leave you with a poem written during WWI by a Canadian poet, doctor and soldier Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae