On May 5, 1868 General John Alexander Logan, who was a general during the US Civil War and who was then national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic (a fraternal organization of veterans), proclaimed there to be a holiday called "Decoration Day" to honor all members of the military (both Union and Confederate) who had died during the Civil War that had ended three years earlier. The first observation of this holiday took place on May 30, 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery and the graves of those military members were "decorated" with flowers. Red poppies have become the flower most associated with this holiday.
After World War I Decoration Day generally became known as Memorial Day and the holiday was expanded to honor all US Military that had died during all wars and military actions in which the United States had been involved. But it wasn't until May of 1967 that President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the legislation, passed by Congress that year, officially changing the name "Decoration Day" to "Memorial Day."
Cory Rohan
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoBecause people decorated the graves of the dead soldiers
Wiki User
∙ 11y agonobody facking cares.
Decoration Day!
Decoration Day!
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It was declared on Tuesday, May 5 in 1868 by General John Alexander Logan and was first observed on Saturday, May 30, 1868.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It was first observed on May 30, 1868, three years after the US Civil War ended, to honor those of the military who had died during the Civil War. After World War I it was expanded to honor all who had died during any war or military action in which the United States had been involved and it generally became known as Memorial Day. But it was not until 1967 that President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the legislation officially renaming the holiday from Decoration Day to Memorial Day.
Decoration Day!
It was changed to Memorial Day "officially" in 1967. It was however, called Memorial Day many years before the official change.
Decoration Day
In 1868 when it was proclaimed as a holiday by General John Alexander Logan, Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the legislation in 1967 officially renaming it as Memorial Day.
Decoration Day is now known as Memorial Day and it is celebrated on the last Monday of May.
Decoration Day is now known as Memorial Day and it is celebrated on the last Monday of May.
thats easy
Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day and was ALWAYS May 30. Never any of this "closest Monday" stuff to make a long weekend. Seems like taking advantage of the those we're to honour.