Cemetery Research By Myra Vanderpool Gormley, CG Memorial Day was first officially observed on May 30, 1868. It began when General John A. Logan called on soldiers and veterans to decorate military graves with flowers.
Genealogists often visit cemeteries.
In fact, it is one of the first field trips that most family historians take. To locate the burial places of your family members start by asking family members if they know where your ancestors are buried, and if they remember having visited the cemetery. Also look for your ancestor's place of burial in his or her obituary and on the death certificate. Old deeds, especially when the family estate was being sold out of the family, often will indicate if there is a family burying place on the old homestead. Remember too, that churches may have more than one cemetery.