The inaugural Decoration Day, which served as the forerunner to Memorial Day, was observed on this date in history, May 30, 1868.
Memorial Day is a day of commemoration to honor those who have died in service to our country. It was first known as Decoration Day since it was once customary to decorate graves with flags, flowers, and wreaths.
The Origin and Evolution of Memorial Day
This was the first time it was publicly honored on May 30, 1868, to remember the sacrifices made by Civil War veterans. Gen. John A. Logan issued a proclamation on behalf of the Grand Army of the Republic, an association of former Union sailors and soldiers.
After the Civil War, local observances at cemeteries in a number of communities across the country marked the beginning of attempts to pay tribute to and commemorate those who had died in battle. These local observances later evolved into this national event.
According to the American Battle Monuments Commission, Decoration Day’s significance changed over time, moving away from remembering Civil War dead and toward being a day to remember all US military personnel who have died in combat.
Honoring Those Who Served
According to the Congressional Research Service, today is a day for reflection and remembering those who have passed away while serving in the US military.
The National Moment of Remembering, which calls on all Americans to pause at 3 pm, plays a part in commemorating the event. to pause for a second.
The event commemorates the American Civil War, which claimed the lives of more than 600,000 Union and Confederate soldiers between 1861 and 1865.
Regarding the first national Decoration Day event, there isn’t much disagreement.
After a call from a group of Union soldiers to adorn war graves with blooming flowers, it happened on May 30, 1868.
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