Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-29
ORIGIN OF TIE DAY.
How the Observance of Memorial Day
Was Suggested.

Was Suggested.
The following letter, originally sent %
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 "Me-
mortal Day" belongs to Mrs. Henry S.
Kimball, of West Philadelphia, Pa The
suggestion was made by her in 1865 to
General John \. Logan, then commander
in-chief of the Grand Army of the Repub-
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 il
battle, and suggested to him that, as the
commander-in-chiefo 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 af-
terward he wrote Mrs. Kimball thanking
her for the suggestion, and stating that he
felt that such touching tribute to his
with general favor.
After carefully rejecting upon how he
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 as Order
No. II, and May 80, 1868. was named as
the day il should go into effect The order
was generally well received throughout
the country. and practically obeyed by the
Grand Army Of the Republic, greatly to
General Dogan's satisfaction, as evidenced
in the following letter TO Mrs. Kimball,
dated Washington, July 9, 1868:
My DEAR FRIEND-It is very gratifying TO
me to hear. as l do day after day. from my
friends OF the reception of my Order No IL.
As you observe, the custom is a beautiful one.
and am confident that ii viii not only never
pass away from the recollection of the Ameri-
can people, but VIII more deeply ingraft itself
in their hearts. and each returning anniver-
sary of sacred decoration Will increase in i'm
pressive devotion to our patriot dead; and the
crowns we weave for them of never fading
laurel and the beautiful flowers strewn over
their graves give birth to sentiments of love
and Of honor which bind the past, the present
and the future in one continuous chain of ad-
miration that the life and service of even the
humblest private shall never be forgotten.
Yours truly. JOHN y. LOGAN.
was a clerk at the house of representa-
tives and General Logan's 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
bail for the suggestion to decorate our sol
diers' graves. saw him hand them Mrs
kimballs letter on the subject to read, and
heard General Logan state to General Chip
man his views and wishes. out of which
Order No. IL grew, and during the presi-
dental canvass OF that year. on which
went with him, he received many encomi-
ums wherever he went for the Inaugural
! ton OF Memorial Day, and he never re
| Trained from giving Mrs. kimball full
credit for the idea, feeling quite content
and appreciative for the share of honor
| that naturally and properly flowed TO him
for putting it into practical and permanent
| operation.
Since then Memorial Day has silently
matured into a tender and welcome. Gus
tom throughout our land, and has addi-
tionally endeared to the hearts of the peo-
pie the memory of that great hearted,
brave and brilliant soldier, orator and
statesman, JOnn ~ Logan.