“Loving Island Life” History of Memorial Day

This weeks “Loving Island Life” Blog shares a brief history of the Memorial Day holiday.

Anyone new to America might be convinced that Memorial Day is the first big party of the summer season! But that’s not how it started or why it’s so important.

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. 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. Nearly every family in this country felt the direct loss of a loved one.

It was not until after World War I, however, that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May.

Unlike many of our other holidays, remembering our fallen soldiers doesn’t require you to be of certain beliefs. Just American. We should all come together on this day…not the whole weekend…just Monday, and remember what the holiday means and how we’re supposed to observe it. Memorial Day isn’t about war and all the feelings that go along with it. It’s about individuals who served in the United States Military, they followed orders and they and their families paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Please join with us this Monday in remembering our fallen heroes who put their lives on the line for the country they loved. Those who did–and paid the price–will forever have our unwavering respect and admiration.