Memorial Day
Origins of Memorial Day
On May 5, 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War, the head of an organization of Union veterans - the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) - established Decoration Day. It was designed as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Major General John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. In 1971, the U.S. Congress declared that Memorial Day would be recognized on the last Monday of May.
Official Birthplace of Memorial Day
In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, NY, the "birthplace" of Memorial Day. A ceremony on May 5, 1866, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Local businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff.
To ensure the sacrifices of America’s fallen heroes are never forgotten, in December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law "The National Moment of Remembrance Act," P.L. 106-579, creating the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. The commission’s charter is to "encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity" by encouraging and coordinating commemorations in the United States of Memorial Day and the National Moment of Remembrance.
The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada states: "It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day."
From: http://www1.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp
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