History of Memorial day

     The leader of the Grand army of the Republic  - a group for northern civil war vets, called for a day to remember the civil war soldiers who died in combat and to decorate their graves. He called it "decoration day" and it was to be May 30th, 1868, a date he chose because it wasn't the anniversary of any particular battle. Most northern states held similar ceremonies and by 1890, decoration day was a state holiday in those northern states but southern states still weren't playing ball.
     Over the years the holiday became memorial day and instead of just Civil war soldiers, it became about honoring fallen heros from all the wars. I've always known it to be about decorating all graves, not just those of soldiers.
     For years the holiday was observed on May 30th just like the original. In 1968, congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday act, which made memorial day the last Monday in May, it also made memorial day a federal holiday. Now all federal employees can enjoy a three day weekend.
 ðŸ˜Ž 
     Memorial day is said to be the unofficial start to summer.

Sources 
-History.com editors, Memorial Day, October 27th, 2009, history.com

-A brief history of the Grand Army of the Republic, 2023, suvcw.org

     

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