Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-05-31
ORIGIN OF THE DAY.
How the Observance OF Memorial Day
Was Suggested.

How the Observance OF mehforhhi bsy
Was Suggested.
The following letter, originally sent TO
the New York Tribune from Washington
by Junius Simcns, will not be uninterest-
ing at this time;
As one knowing the facts, permit me to
say that the credit of first suggesting m
mortal Day belongs 20 Mrs. Henry ;.
Kimball, Of West Philadelphia, Pa Tho
suggestion was made by her in 1853 TO
General John A. Logan, then commander
in.chief Of the Grand Army Of the kepub-
lie.
Mr.. and Mrs Kimball were old friends
of General Logan On their return home
from a southern tour Mrs. kimball wrote
TO General Logan stating that she had par
ticularly noticed the southern women deco
rating the graves Of their dead fallen Ia
battle, and suggested 10 him that, as the
commander in chief Of the Grand Army of
the Republic, he should have our heroic
soldiers, whose lonely graves were many.
scattered and unmarked, remembered IN
the same beautiful way. The general was
deeply impressed with the idea. Soon al
terward he wrote Mrs Kimball thanking
her for the suggestion, and stating that no
felt that such a touching tribute 10 his
dead comrades would undoubtedly meet
with general favor.
After carefully rejecting upon how ho
should give the matter practical shape he
stated his ideas TO General Chapman, OF
the Grand Army of the Republic staff, and
requested him TO formulate them in an
order. This order, modified and enlarged
by General Logan himself, WAS issued TO
| the Grand Army Of the Republic ~ Order
| No. If, " and May 80, 1868, was named IA
| the day it should 20 into effect. The order
was generally well received throughout
| the country, and practically Obeyed by the
| Grand Army Of the Republic, greatly To
General I.ogan4 satisfaction, AZ evidenced
in the following letter to Mrs kimball,
dated Washington, July9, 1868:
MY DEAR FtuEND-It h very gratifying tn
me 30 hear, ~ I do day after day, from my
| friends OF the reception Of my order NO II.
| As YOU Observe, tho custom h beautiful one,
! and am confident that II will not only never
pass away from the recollection Of the Ameri-
can pooplc, but will more deeply inRrait itself
/ In their hearts, and CuCh returning annivoT-
sary Of sacred decoration will Increase In I'M
profsiyc devotion 10 our patriot dead; ana Tho
! cruwua We weave for them Of never fading
laurel and the beautiful flowers strown over
their graves give birth 10 sentiments Of love
and Of honor which bind tho past, tho present
and the future in one continuous chain Of nj
miration that the life aud service Of oven the
humblcst private shall never DO forgotten
Yours truly. JOHN A. LOGAN.
/ was a clerk mt the house Of representa-
tivcs and General Logans private secre-
tary at the time, and saw all the CORE
spondence relating TO the matter, heard
General Logan tell his friends and other
callers that he was indebted TO Mrs. Kim
ball for the suggestion to decorate our sol
dicrs graves, saw him hand them Mrs
Kimhal's letter on the subject TO rcad, and
heard General Logan state 10 General Chip
man his views and wishes, out Of which
"Or,ler No. II" grew, and during the pre''i
DENTAL canvass Of that year, on which
went with him, he received many encomi
uma wherever no went for the Inaugural
ton Of Memorial Day, and he never re-
/ Trained from giving Mrs. Kimball ful
p credit for the idea, feeling quite conten
4 and apprcciative for the share Of homo
. that naturally and properly flowed 10 hin
r for putting IL into practical and permaneu
4 operation.
{ Since then Memorial Day has silently
9 matured into tender and welcome Gus
tom throughout our land, and has add
tionally endeared to the hearts OF the PEG
pie the memory Of that great hearted
brave and brilliant soldier, orator ant
statesman, John A. Logan.