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22F e D e r a l H o l i D ay s

IT WAS 1866, and the United States was reof comrades who died in defense of their country
covering from the long and bloody Civil War beand during the late rebellion, and whose bodies
tween the North (Union) and the South (Confednow lie in almost every city, village and hamlet
erate). Surviving soldiers came home, some with missing
churchyard in the land. In this observance no formlimbs, and all with stories to tell. Henry Welles, a drugof ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades
store owner in Waterloo, New York, heard the stories
will in their own way arrange such fitting services
and had an idea. He suggested thatand testimonials of respect as cirall the shops in town close for one
cumstances may permit.
day to honor the soldiers who were
The day was to be a memorial,buried in the Waterloo cemetery. Onand was intended also to be a day
the morning of May 5, the townsof reconciliation, as flowers werepeople placed flowers, wreaths, andplaced on the graves of both Union
crosses on the graves of the northand Confederate soldiers in Arern soldiers in the cemetery.
lington Cemetery.
In the South, women’s organiIn a typical Decoration Dayzations were also honoring the war
ceremony in the North, veteransdead, decorating the graves ofwould march through the town tosouthern soldiers who had died in
the cemetery to decorate their comthe war. In many towns and cities
rades’ graves with flags. They took
there was a growing movement tophotographs of soldiers next tohonor the war dead with a special
American flags. Rifles were shot inday. So in 1868, General Jonathan
the air as a salute to the northern
Logan, commander of the Grandsoldiers who had given their lives
Army of the Republic, established May 30 as the official
to keep the United States together. Children read poems
day of observance to honor all those who had given
and sang civil war songs and hymns. Veterans came totheir lives in service of their country. The day was called
the schools wearing their medals and uniforms to tell
Decoration Day.
students about the Civil War.
In General Logan’s proclamaIn 1882, the name was changedtion of Decoration Day, hefrom Decoration Day to Memorial
PREVIOUS PAGE: Flowers and wreaths are placed on graves
declared:Day, to honor soldiers who had
in memory of loved ones who have died in war.
The 30th of May, 1868, is ABOVE: In 1868 General Jonathan Logan established died in all previous wars—not only
designated for the purpose of May 30 as the official day of observance, not only as the Civil War. In the northern States,
a memorial but also as a day of reconciliation. Flowers
strewing with flowers, or oth- are placed on graves of those who have lost their lives it was designated a legal holiday.
erwise decorating the graves in wars.
The southern states honored theirF E D E R A L H O L I D AY S

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war dead on other days until
the end of World War I.
After World War I, Memorial Day was also called
Poppy Day because of Moina
Michael’s idea to wear red
poppies on the day, in honorof those who had died in thewar. She was inspired by John
McCrae’s poem, “In Flanders
Fields,” which speaks of thebright red poppies that growamong the graves on former
battlefields in Belgium. Her
sale of poppies on Memorial
Day benefited military men inneed. The tradition eventually
spread to other countries, wherereal or artificial poppies weresold to benefit war orphans.
Since 1922, the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) organization in the United States has sold paper poppies,
made by disabled veterans, on Memorial Day.
In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed
Waterloo, New York the birthplace of Memorial Day.
In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared Memorial
Day a national holiday, to be observed on the last
Monday in May. Cities all around the United States
hold their own ceremonies on this day to pay respect
to the men and women who have died in wars or in
the service of their country.
Today, Memorial Day is also a day for personal remembrance. Families and individuals honor the memory of their loved ones who have died. Church services,visits to the cemetery, flowers on graves, or even silent
tributes mark the day with dignity and solemnity. It is a
day of reflection. Memorial Day often coincides withthe end of the school year, so to many Americans theday also signals the beginning of summer—with a threeday weekend to spend at the beach, in the mountains,or at home relaxing.
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery inVirginia is the nation’s largest nationM e M o r i a l D ay

al cemetery. Buried there witha special place of honor are
members of the armed forces,
as well as astronauts, explorers,
and other distinguished Americans. President John F. Kennedy is buried in a spot overlooking Washington, D.C., andmarked with an eternal flame.
In the early hours of themorning, on the Friday before Memorial Day, soldiersof the Third U.S. Infantry
walk along the rows of headstones. Each soldier stops ata headstone, salutes, takes
one flag from the bundle offlags he or she is carrying,and pushes it into the ground.
These soldiers are part of a
special regiment, the Old Guard, and they consider ita privilege to place flags on the more than two hundred thousand graves of soldiers who served and diedin wars. “They have done their job,” said one soldier,“and now it’s my turn to do mine.”
It is an equal honor to guard the Tomb of the Unknowns. Four unknown soldiers have been buried inthis spot: one soldier from each of the two World Wars,
one from the Korean conflict, and one from the Vietnam War. Each of these soldiers represents all of those
who gave their lives in the modern wars. On anotherhill of Arlington Cemetery, there is a mass grave of unidentified soldiers from the Civil War.
On Memorial Day, the President or Vice Presidentof the United States gives a speech and lays a wreathon the Tomb of the Unknowns. Members of the armedforces give a rifle salute. At other tombs, veterans andfamilies come to lay their own wreaths and say prayers.

Above: After World War I, Memorial Day was also
called Poppy Day, and bright red poppies were worn inhonor of those who had died in that war.

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F e D e r a l H o l i D ay smass: adj. pertaining to large numbers or quantities;
not separated
unidentified: adj. having no name or identity

Glossary
recover(ing): v. to get well after an illness, disaster, or
injurylimb(s): n. arm or leg
honor: v. to remember or recognize with respect andthanks
cemetery: n. graveyard; place of burial
wreath(s): n. ring or circle of leaves or flowers used fordecoration or commemoration
decorate(ing): v. to furnish or cover with somethingornamental, such as to place flowers on a grave
proclamation: n. an official or public announcement
designate(d): v. to specify; assign
strew(ing): v. to throw around lightly
rebellion: n. revolution or uprisinghamlet: n. small town; village
churchyard: n. the ground around a church, often used
as a graveyardprescribe(d): v. to give guidance or a rule or a direction
post(s): n. military camp or fort
fitting: adj. appropriate
testimonial(s): n. formal statement or declaration ofvalue or merit; words of praise
memorial: n. ceremony or monument to honor the memory of a person who has died or an historical event
reconciliation: n. the act of restoring harmony or a resolution of differences
veteran(s): n. member of the armed forces, now retired
or discharged
comrade(s): n. good friend; a colleague
salute: n. gesture of honor or respectpoppy(-ies): n. a species of flower known for its bright
red or scarlet flowers
orphan(s): n. a child whose parents have died or haveabandoned the childdisable(d): adj. having limited ability due to an injury
or physical abnormality
pay respect: v. phrase. honor
tribute: n. statement of praise and respectdignity: n. self-respect; nobleness of manner
solemnity: n. seriousness
reflection: n. deep thoughtsignal(s): v. to indicate; to markheadstone(s): n. stone marker for burial placesprivilege: n. special rightF e D e r a l H o l i D ay s25

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