Why was Memorial Day originally called Decoration Day?

Answer 1

1868 was the first time Decoration Day was observed in the United States to honor the Union & Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War. The first commemoration took place on May 30, 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery when the graves of those war dead were decorated with flowers. New York was the first state to recognize the holiday in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The southern states refused to observe this date and each state of the south had their own "Memorial Day"-like observance on different days of the year.

It was not until after World War I that Decoration Day became a time to honor US Military persons who had died in all wars in which the United States had been involved. And it was not until this happened that the southern states began to observe the holiday on May 30. But the southern states still observe their original dates as well. This is also when the holiday began to be referred to as Memorial Day instead of Decoration Day.

But it wasn't until 1967 that President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the legislation officially renaming Decoration Day to Memorial Day. In 1968 the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed by congress moving several holidays from their original dates to a Monday to give federal employees a three-day weekend. Memorial Day was one of those holidays. This Act took effect on January 1, 1971 and so Memorial Day is now observed on the last Monday in the month of May.

Answer 2

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."

Answer 3

Decoration Day was first observed on May 30, 1868 to honor all military personnel (both Union and Confederate) who had died during the US Civil War. At Arlington National Cemetery the graves of those soldiers were decorated with flowers. After World War I the day was changed to honor the memory of those who had died in all wars in which the United States had been involved. It then generally became known as Memorial Day. But it was not until 1967 that legislation was passed and signed by President Lyndon Baines Johnson officially renaming the holiday as Memorial Day.

Answer 4

The first Decoration Day was observed on May 30, 1868 when the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War were decorated with flowers. This occurred at Arlington National Cemetery. On May 5, 1868 General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic had officially declared there to be a holiday called Decoration Day, which in 1967 was officially renamed as Memorial Day.

Answer 5

Decoration Day was first officially observed on May 30, 1868 to honor the fallen soldiers of the US Civil War when flowers were used to decorate the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. After World War I the day was expanded to honor the war dead of all wars in which the United States was involved. It increasingly became referred to as Memorial Day but it wasn't until 1967 that President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Congressional Act officially changing the name to Memorial Day.

Answer 6

Peoplle originally decorated the soldiers graves with flowers

Answer 7

Because of the practice of decorating the graves of deceased soldiers, sailors and marines with flowers.