Sasquatch Chronicles Blog

The story of Memorial Day begins in the aftermath of the American Civil War, the deadliest war in U.S. history. More than 600,000 soldiers had died, and communities across the country were grieving.

From Local Tributes to “Decoration Day”

In the years right after the Civil War, towns and families began holding springtime ceremonies to honor fallen soldiers. People visited cemeteries, cleaned graves, and decorated them with flowers which is why the early observance became known as “Decoration Day.”

Many places claimed to have held the first ceremony. One important early event happened in 1865 in Charleston, where formerly enslaved Black Americans reburied Union soldiers and honored them with a parade and memorial ceremony.

By 1868, a national effort began when John A. Logan, a Union Army general and leader of a veterans’ organization called the Grand Army of the Republic, declared May 30 as a day to decorate the graves of war dead.

The first large national observance took place at Arlington National Cemetery, where thousands gathered to honor Union soldiers.

After More Wars, the Meaning Expanded

Originally, Decoration Day mainly honored soldiers who died in the Civil War. But after World War I, Americans began using the holiday to remember all U.S. military personnel who died in any war.

Over time, the name “Memorial Day” became more common. By the mid-20th century, it had largely replaced “Decoration Day.”

Becoming an Official Federal Holiday

In 1971, the U.S. government officially made Memorial Day a federal holiday through the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. The law moved the holiday to the last Monday in May to create a three-day weekend for workers.

Today, Memorial Day serves two roles in American culture:

• A solemn day of remembrance for fallen service members
• The unofficial start of summer, marked by parades, family gatherings, and travel

Many traditions continue, including placing flags on graves, holding memorial ceremonies, and observing a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time.

You can still see the original spirit of Decoration Day in ceremonies held each year at places like Arlington National Cemetery.