By John E. Carey
May 26, 2007
Created by Civil War widows to honor their dead, Memorial Day was first called Decoration Day. The day marked the annual “decoration” of graves with flowers.
Today, Memorial Day honors all war dead, and, as at Arlington National Cemetery, it has become customary to decorate the graves with a small American Flag instead of flowers. At Arlington, soldiers pay their respects to The Fallen and place flags on the graves.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5th, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on May 30, 1868.
On Memorial Day, at Arlington National Cemetery, traditionally the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The occasion is also marked in almost every State on the last Monday in May. Several southern states, however, have an additional, separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis’ birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.
The newest “tradition” perhaps of Memorial Day is the annual tribute to The Fallen in Washington DC provided by “Rolling Thunder.”
The major function of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is to publicize POW-MIA issues: To educate the public that many American prisoners of war were left behind after all previous wars and to help correct the past and to protect future veterans from being left behind should they become prisoners of war-missing in action.
Rolling Thunder is also committed to helping American veterans from all wars.
Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is a non-profit organization. Members donate their time because they believe in the issues they support.
(See: http://www.rollingthunder1.com/)
Here is General Logan’s official order:
General Orders No.11, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868
The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land.
In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.
We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, “of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion.”
What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes?
Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders.
Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.
If our eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.
Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from his honor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation’s gratitude, the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.
Additional Reading:
Memorial Day Part I: Letters bring a war back to life
Memorial Day Part II: Battle of the Bulge
Brothers Served Valiantly in War
On War and Love: From the 1860s
CIA Pilot From French Era In Vietnam Laid To Rest
Helo Pilot Gets Medal of Honor for Rescue of 70; Flew 22 Missions in 14 Hours
Medal of Honor Recipients Gather at the Pentagon; Share Stories of War
Tribute to Admiral Joe Metcalf, “Warrior” and Alacrity Personified
9-11 memorial takes shape at Pentagon
Veterans’ Lifelong Mission To Keep Memories Alive
(Rolling Thunder is 20 Years Old)
UnAmerican ACLU: Aggression against military memorials
Honoring the Dead and Giving Thanks Started During Another War
This year’s Rolling Thunder: 100,000 Bikes:
Rolling Thunder honors The Lost, POWs and MIAs
For a video Memorial Day Tribute we recommend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQUFvdRdIG0
We remain acutely aware of the men and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan in the war against terror.
May 26, 2007 at 5:03 pm |
This is very interesting, John. Please let the old U.S. History teacher add a little from the Civil War era. The tradition began in postwar Charleston, South Carolina, where James Redpath–an abolitionist and friend of John Brown–was in charge of schools.
The Union cemetery, men who had fallen in battle and were buried there, was in considerable disrepair in the former Confederate stronghold (the location of Fort Sumter). He made it a school activity for students, both black and white, to clean up the Union graveyard and decorate it with American flags.
General John A. Logan was significant in Civil War history as well because of his arming the slaves and immediately enlisting them to fight as the Union Army moved down the Mississippi River. Today, May 26, 2007, there is a Memorial Day unveiling of an exhibit at Milliken’s Bend which for the first time acknowledges the role of African Americans in fighting for liberty rather than simply being granted it. General John A. Logan was the man in charge.
May 26, 2007 at 8:38 pm |
Jean: Thanks so much from the WISE and very sharp history teacher. Logan was larger than life. His role in Memorial Day is special but he was a very able man, officer and leader.
Thanks for the wonderful input!
John E. Carey
May 28, 2007 at 2:21 pm |
Thank you very much Mr. John E. Carey for your information about the history. I on behalf of the people of Bajaur Agency, tribal areas present solute to the onknown soldiers. Those people who did something for their country and nation were never forgetted by the great people. You are great and this is the reason that you have been remembering your heroes.