Aren’t you excited about Memorial Day? The day when we pay respect to those who put their life on the line in service of our country. Memorial Day activities are so engaging that you might think it’s the Fourth of July or Christmas season preparations.
Imagine the foods, drinks, solemn and merry moments. You could see beautiful buds arranged into wreaths, crosses, and bouquets for the event, you could hear musical instruments commemorating fallen soldiers, both the known and unknown. Finally, you could smell that tasty grilled hunk of meat from your neighbor’s.
However, let’s not forget the true essence of Memorial Day as we celebrate with friends and loved ones. Also, we should dig into the past and discover some intriguing facts you might not know about Memorial Day, especially its birthplace.
Brief History Of Memorial Day In The US
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The holiday was formerly known as Decoration Day in the 19th century before it became Memorial Day in the modern era. Also, many states in the United States have claimed to be the birthplace of Memorial Day.
However, in 1865, the Memorial Day tradition started with freed slaves in Charleston, South Carolina. During the American Civil War, the Confederates captured Union soldiers and imprisoned them in the Washington Race Course and Jockey Club. When these captives got sick and died, the Confederates buried them in a mass gravesite.
At the end of the Civil War, the emancipated men and women remained to give a proper burial to their Union comrades.
According to David Blight’s discovery from The New York Tribune and The Charleston Courier, on the 1st of May 1865, a crowd of 10,000 people which included freed slaves, some white missionaries, and 3000 Black schoolchildren staged a parade around the track, carrying bouquets and singing. Also, members of the famed 54th Massachusetts and other Black Union regiments performed double-time marches. Thus, this could be regarded as the first instance of a Memorial Day celebration.
Modern Celebration Of Memorial Day
This holiday was mainly to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the Civil War in the 19th century. Therefore, in May 1868, General John A. Logan, the commander-in-chief of the Union Veterans’ group, issued a decree that May 30th should be the official date for decoration day.
After the First World War, the scope of decoration day shifted to encompass fallen soldiers of the Great War. Therefore, it was not just Civil War fallen soldiers but every military personnel who risked their lives for the country.
Though Memorial Day wasn’t a federal holiday till 1971, in 1961, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared the new name for the annual observance from Decoration Day to Memorial Day and its birthplace at Waterloo, New York. Finally, the day of celebration changed from the 30th of May to the last Monday of May annually.
5 Intriguing Things About Memorial Day
Just from the brief history of this holiday, I could tell you’ve gotten more than five amazing insights. However, these are some you might have missed:
- On the Friday before Memorial Day, people wear poppies which symbolize a veteran’s sacrifice, inspired by a war memorial poem, titled In Flanders Field, by soldier John McCrae, a Canadian surgeon
- Memorial Day is considered the second most popular grilling day as 75% of Americans indulge in barbecue preparation. Following this, it’s the day when the consumption of hot dogs increases to over 800 hot dogs per second
- In 2000, the federal government passed a law that at 3 pm local time, Americans should observe a national moment of silence to remember those brave military personnel
- The American flag is usually half-hung till noon on Memorial Day
- For the fourth time in the past 50 years, there has been an increase in elected veterans in Congress. 97 members of the 118th Congress are elected veterans.
What other amazing facts would you desire to share about Memorial Day?
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