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Memorial Day has just passed for this year, but we should all watch for it next year and honor those gone before us.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day to remember those who have died in our nation’s service.  After the Civil War many people in the North and South decorated graves of fallen soldiers with flowers.  There are several stories of how Memorial Day originated. Several people and different areas of the country take credit for its origin.

One story is Henry C. Welles, a druggist in Waterloo, New York, in 1868 suggested that the patriots who had died in the Civil War should be honored by decorating their grave.  General John B. Murray, Seneca County Clerk, liked the idea and a committee was formed to plan a day devoted to honoring the dead.  Townspeople made wreaths, crosses and bouquets for each veteran’s grave.  The village was decorated with flags at half-mast.  On May 5^th of that year, a processional, led by veteran’s proceeded to the town’s cemeteries.

Decoration Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan and was first observed officially on May 30,1868.   The South did not observe Decoration Day, preferring to honor their dead on separate days until after World War I. In 1882, the name was changed to Memorial Day and the observance was set aside to honor all fallen heroes of all American Wars.  In 1971, the National Holidays Act, passed by Congress, took effect making Memorial Day a national holiday to be held on the last Monday in May. This turned Memorial Day into a three-day weekend.  As a result of this legislation, Memorial Day has become more of holiday and celebration and has lost much of its meaning as a day of remembrance. 

Many people have forgotten the history and true meaning of the day.  Let us not forget those who have gone before us.