Memorial Day started as Decoration Day back after the Civil War, and it’s all about remembering the brave service members who lost their lives. This weekend, let’s take a moment to honor their sacrifice and reflect on what their dedication means for us today.
Here are the highlights:
- Decoration Day originated in the years following the Civil War to honor deceased war veterans.
- In May 1868, Decoration Day was formally observed at Arlington National Cemetery by President Ulysses S. Grant.
- State legislatures recognized Decoration Day for Civil War veterans in the late 1800s.
- After WWI, Decoration Day expanded to honor veterans from all U.S. wars.
- In 1971, Congress designated Decoration Day as Memorial Day, a national holiday on the fourth Monday in May.
- Memorial Day is a reflective holiday, incorporating remembrances of service members killed overseas.
- Bowie has a strong tradition of honoring veterans during Memorial Day activities, including the Field of Honor and Memorial Day Parade.
- It is important to distinguish between Memorial Day and Veterans Day, which honors all veterans on November 11.
- The post encourages reflection on the sacrifices of those who died in service and a commitment to their cause.
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Memorial Day Reflection
In the years immediately following the Civil War, towns around the country began gathering in the early spring to place flowers on the gravesites of deceased war veterans. The practice became known as Decoration Day.
In May 1868, Decoration Day was formally observed by a Union Civil War veterans group in a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery presided over by President Ulysses S. Grant.
Through the late 1800s, state legislatures passed proclamations formally designating Decoration Day in recognition of deceased Civil War veterans. The U.S. Army and Navy established formal guidance for Decoration Day observances at their facilities.
Following WWI, Decoration Day grew to recognize veterans killed in combat in all U.S. wars. In 1971, an Act of Congress formally designated Decoration Day as Memorial Day, a national holiday to be observed the fourth Monday in May.
Memorial Day is by nature a reflective, more somber holiday. Over the years, Memorial Day gatherings and ceremonies have incorporated remembrances of service members killed overseas, and featured themes celebrating national service, the country, and veterans broadly.
With such a high proportion of Bowie residents who are, were, and aspire to be in the armed forces, veterans have long been recognized and featured at Bowie Memorial Day activities, at the annual Field of Honor and the Memorial Day Parade that's become a staple of Bowie's spring gatherings.
Though it remains important to remember the intent of the holiday and distinguish between Memorial Day and Veterans Day (Veterans Day, on November 11, is incidentally Europe's Memorial Day equivalent, begun in 1921 as a commemoration to those killed in service in WWI).
This Memorial Day weekend, let's take a moment to remember those who died in our nation's service and, as Lincoln described, "[T]o rededicate ourselves … to that cause for which these men gave the last full measure of devotion … that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."