A Brief History Of The Memorial Day And The Holiday Celebrated
Memorial Day is the time to pay homage to the soldiers who lost their lives while fighting the war against slavery. It is also an occasion to honour the family members of thelostsouls. The name and day for observing the occasion was not the same when the tradition started.
The Beginning
The Memorial Day traces its origin to the Decoration Day that was observed to decorate the graves of the people who died in the Civil War. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) established May 30 the day for the event as flowers are easily available during this season. The first such ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia on May 30, 1868. It is also noted that such events were also observed prior to May 30, 1868 in Columbus, Miss. It was on April 25, 1866 that women decorated graves of the Confederate soldiers in Columbus. They also put some flowers on the graves of Union soldiers, the enemy side, because the graves were bare.
Birthplace of Memorial Day
The exact birthplace of the beginning of the observance of the Memorial Day is not known. A number of cities, both in the North and the South, claim for the title. Richmond, Va., Macon and Columbus, Ga., Carbondale, Ill., Boalsburg, Pa. and many other places claim to be the location of the first Decoration Day. Waterloo, N.Y. is officially considered to be the birthplace for the observance (on May 5, 1866).
Ceremonies throughout the nation
The ceremony was widely observed throughout the USA by the end of the ninetieth century. By this time proper arrangements were made for observing the tradition at the facilities of the Navy and the Army.
Declared as a national holiday
Earlier the day was only observed in the honour of those died in the civil war. But after the World War I the ceremony was held to pay homage and respect to soldiers who died in all American wars. In 1971,it was declared a national holiday by the government. But instead of May 30, the last Monday of the month was chosen for the observance for the extended weekend, as is the case with other federal holidays.
Observances in different States
Some states follow their own Decoration/Observance Day on different dates. In Mississippi, it is known as the Confederate Memorial Day and held on the last Monday in April. The fourth Monday of April and April 26 in Alabama and Georgia respectively are chosen for the observance. There are also some other states who observe the day on different dates and recognizes it with different names.
National Moment of Remembrance
In December 2000, €The National Moment of Remembrance Act€ was passed and made into a law so that sacrifices and contributions of the dead soldiers are never forgotten. This law encourages citizens to observe silence on the Memorial Day at the strike of 3 in the afternoon.
However busy one is the person should make it a point to remember the soldiers who have laid down their lives for the nation.
The Beginning
The Memorial Day traces its origin to the Decoration Day that was observed to decorate the graves of the people who died in the Civil War. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) established May 30 the day for the event as flowers are easily available during this season. The first such ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia on May 30, 1868. It is also noted that such events were also observed prior to May 30, 1868 in Columbus, Miss. It was on April 25, 1866 that women decorated graves of the Confederate soldiers in Columbus. They also put some flowers on the graves of Union soldiers, the enemy side, because the graves were bare.
Birthplace of Memorial Day
The exact birthplace of the beginning of the observance of the Memorial Day is not known. A number of cities, both in the North and the South, claim for the title. Richmond, Va., Macon and Columbus, Ga., Carbondale, Ill., Boalsburg, Pa. and many other places claim to be the location of the first Decoration Day. Waterloo, N.Y. is officially considered to be the birthplace for the observance (on May 5, 1866).
Ceremonies throughout the nation
The ceremony was widely observed throughout the USA by the end of the ninetieth century. By this time proper arrangements were made for observing the tradition at the facilities of the Navy and the Army.
Declared as a national holiday
Earlier the day was only observed in the honour of those died in the civil war. But after the World War I the ceremony was held to pay homage and respect to soldiers who died in all American wars. In 1971,it was declared a national holiday by the government. But instead of May 30, the last Monday of the month was chosen for the observance for the extended weekend, as is the case with other federal holidays.
Observances in different States
Some states follow their own Decoration/Observance Day on different dates. In Mississippi, it is known as the Confederate Memorial Day and held on the last Monday in April. The fourth Monday of April and April 26 in Alabama and Georgia respectively are chosen for the observance. There are also some other states who observe the day on different dates and recognizes it with different names.
National Moment of Remembrance
In December 2000, €The National Moment of Remembrance Act€ was passed and made into a law so that sacrifices and contributions of the dead soldiers are never forgotten. This law encourages citizens to observe silence on the Memorial Day at the strike of 3 in the afternoon.
However busy one is the person should make it a point to remember the soldiers who have laid down their lives for the nation.
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