History of Memorial Day: Traditions & Origins

Ever wonder about the origin of the American holiday, Memorial Day?  Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a holiday of remembrance and traditions for soldiers who have died in our nation’s service.  There are many legendary stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. 

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.  The first state to officially recognize Memorial Day as a holiday was New York in 1873.  By 1890, all of the northern states were celebrating Memorial Day.  The South refused to acknowledge the holiday, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the Memorial Day holiday officially changed from just honoring soliders who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring American soldiers who died fighting in any war).  It is now celebrated in almost every state on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional day for honoring Confederate soldiers who have died:  January 19 in Texas; April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis’ birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

Traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years.  Many Americans have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day.  Most people no longer celebrate the holiday by remembering proper flag etiquette or reflecting on the cost of the freedom we hold sacred.  While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades.  Some people think that the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed in December 2000 which asks that at 3:00 pm local time, all American “voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to Taps.  Taps is an official bugle call used by soliders during a military funeral.

To find prayers to use during your Memorial Day observance, browse the prayer directory.  Have a favorite Memorial Day prayer?  Submit it here!