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.
Decoration Day!
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.
Waterloo, New York was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day) by President Lyndon Banes Johnson in May 1966.
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.
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.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and was first proclaimed by General John Alexander Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, on May 5, 1868. Decoration Day was first observed on May 30, 1868.
There are many places that claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day.) And there are many dates as well. But it was in May 1966 that President Lyndon Baines Johnson officially proclaimed Waterloo, New York as the official birthplace of Memorial Day.
Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day) has always been for honoring all military personnel who died during any war or military action in which the United States was involved. What happened in 1967 was that legislation was passed by Congress and signed by President Lyndon Banes Johnson that officially changed the name of the holiday from Decoration Day to Memorial Day.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It was established after the Civil War to honor the soldiers who had died in that conflict by decorating their graves with flowers. The name "Memorial Day" became more widely used after World War II and was officially adopted in 1971.
Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, began during the Civil War as a moment to recognize family who had passed away as a result of the war.