The “Unofficial Start to Summer” tradition goes back over 150 years
To many, Memorial Day is a time where people party and host barbecues for the three-day weekend and celebrate the unofficial start of the summer season. To others, the remembrance means something much deeper as they use the day to give thanks to their fallen friends and family members who gave their lives to protect this country.
Many people, especially veterans, take this American remembrance seriously. In fact, saying “Happy Memorial Day” could prompt some war veterans to frown upon that statement. “What’s ’happy’ about it?” one local veteran said, after being told the common phrase.
The veteran was right to say that there is nothing “happy” about Memorial Day because it was started to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect America. So, what is the history of this well-known remembrance and when did it start?
The roots of this day of remembrance have been debated for over a century. What is known is that the tradition came about shortly after the Civil War. Back in those days, the remembrance was known as “Decoration Day.”
The controversy of who first celebrated “Decoration Day”
The U.S. Civil War holds the record of being the war that had the most casualties out of any major conflict in the country. According to The History Channel website, more than 620,000 people died in the internal conflict between 1861 and 1865.
After the Civil War, many people held their own celebrations to commemorate their own fallen heroes. The first celebration of this kind took place in Charleston, South Carolina.
According to an article written on History.com, during the Civil War, Charleston was home to several prison camps that held Union soldiers. One of the camps was located at an old horse racetrack in the city where many of the soldiers died and were buried.
“Three weeks after the Confederate surrender, an unusual procession entered the former camp,” according to the article. “On May 1, 1865, more than 1,000 people recently freed from enslavement, accompanied by regiments of the U.S. Colored Troops (including the Massachusetts 54th Infantry) and a handful of white Charlestonians, gathered in the camp to consecrate a new, proper burial site for the Union dead. The group sang hymns, gave readings and distributed flowers around the cemetery, which they dedicated to the ‘Martyrs of the Racecourse.’”
General John Logan
However, the remembrance’s official founder, General John Logan, issued a decree in May 1868 saying that May 30 should be nationally commemorated as a day to honor the nation’s fallen heroes. Legend has it that, Logan picked that day because it was one day where no historic civil war battles occurred. But other previous accounts allege that the holiday took place when flowers were in their full bloom in late May.
“The 30th of May 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” Logan proclaimed.
Memorial Day as everyone knows it
For years, “Decoration Day” was celebrated on various dates, and it was known as being a day to honor all of those (whether in the north or south) who sacrificed themselves. However, after World War I, the holiday changed to being one that honors all war veterans.
According to the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) website, “In 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and established that Memorial Day was to be commemorated on the last Monday of May.”
A different article from the History Channel, said that the move to change the holiday’s official date was made to give federal employees a three-day weekend. The law passed that year changed the name of the remembrance from Decoration Day to Memorial Day to celebrate fallen war heroes from all the wars and conflicts the U.S. military participated in.
Memorial Day traditions
The earliest traditions include gathering at a cemetery for fallen soldiers and placing flowers on their graves. And, in many places (including local cemeteries), this tradition still takes place on the remembrance.
During World War I, Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae, spotted a field of red poppies just after a major battle had ended. The scene prompted him to write a poem called “We Shall Keep the Faith” to begin a campaign to make the poppy a symbol of tribute to all who died in war. To this day, many still wear red poppies to celebrate.
Another tradition that many do not know about is that there is a national moment of silence at 3 p.m. (in each time zone) every Memorial Day to celebrate the nation’s beloved fallen heroes.
TMO Staff Memories and Traditions
We have included all the fondest memories and traditions from The Maverick Observer Staff below.
Memories from the trenches
As a retired U.S. Army major my memories of Memorial Day are bittersweet. In 2000, my husband and I traveled with a German/American group to the Normandy American Cemetery for the Memorial Day remembrance.
Most folks remember this cemetery from the movie, “Saving Private Ryan,” but until you have stood on this hallowed ground and looked at the rows upon rows of white crosses and Star of David headstones, you cannot grasp the magnitude of sacrifice members of the military have endured. It is a humbling, gut-wrenching sight and there was not a dry eye in the group.
Now we honor our fallen men and women in a ceremony with the Special Forces Association Chapter 4-24 at Memorial Park. It is an opportunity for quiet reflection on the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice. I will admit we also enjoy a BBQ with the group. We hoist a favorite beverage but tap the table before we drink to include all our friends in the day.
Memorial Day and BBQs
As a child our Memorial Day celebrations had little to do with honoring our veterans. My father was in Vietnam as an Airforce Captain, and never spoke of it. For our family, Memorial Day marked something entirely different. Instead, it was family get-togethers and picnics celebrating the start of summer.
There were flags and red, white and blue tablecloths, but no mention of why we had those decorations. A confusing tradition to my brother and me, but the troubling thought was rapidly pushed aside as we participated in family yard games and the opening of public swimming pools.
As the years went on my husband and I, as young parents, continued the Memorial Day celebration as the start of summer. We had friends in Michigan who annually hosted a “Memorial Day Challenge” at their lake home. The day before was filled with preparing for the day by fixing a bounty of food, cleaning and arranging patio furniture, setting up the croquet course, the volleyball court, tug-o-war, setting out the fishing poles and worms, filling balloons with water for the balloon toss and something we called, the “diaper derby.” All this to honor not our veterans, but the camaraderie of family and friends.
Memorial Day morning was set aside for the Indianapolis 500 race, in which we all gathered around the TV, shouting for our favorite driver to win. The afternoon marked the kickoff of a day filled with continuous games and competitions with 100 family and friends. Each year was, indeed, a wonderful memory of celebration but not necessarily the intention of Memorial Day.
True meaning of Memorial Day
I am embarrassed to say, that the true meaning of Memorial Day was not realized until we moved to Colorado Springs, a community deeply entrenched with military. I have come to understand that Memorial Day is not necessarily a celebration, but a deeply felt memorial to those who stood in my place defending our country – those whose lives were lost and those who survived the atrocities of war and conflict representing our country. It was not until recently that I thanked my father for his service and sacrifice. Although he will never acknowledge it or speak of his time serving our country, I am truly thankful and amazed by his actions.
So, it is finally with deep appreciation and pride that this Memorial Day I will “celebrate” the fact that I live in country where men and women volunteer to stand in my place to protect the freedoms granted to us all as Americans.
Ultimate sacrifice of people who lived before me
I have been trying to remember specific events about Memorial Day, and the parade I used to go to as a kid. I really cannot remember one. But every time I thought about it before writing this article, I had a venerate moment.
I also believe that there are two, maybe more, conflicts that easily rise above in my memories where the military fallen have paid a heavy price. The two are the American War of Independence and the Second World War. These two conflicts give me a huge amount of respect and understanding as to the true meaning of Memorial Day.
Memorial Day is a day that causes personal reflection on the people and the true meaning of the word freedom. Principles and ethics do mean something in my life. People who have lived before me and given the ultimate sacrifice have demonstrated these values.
The United States is a unique country. We are here to look after the founding principles and people who died for them.
Memorial Day might just be the most important day on the U.S. calendar of holidays. It is a time to remember the sacrifices of those who gave their life for the people of today to have the lifestyle we now have. It is also a holiday we should never ever take for granted. We owe the previous generations a lot.
