The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-29
Origin Of Memorial Day.

The Springfield (MassD Republican pub
hsnes the following communication:
HOW often do We see q holy day
thoughtlessly and carelessly turned into
holiday. with no misgivings or prickings
OF conscience Memorial Day Is too young
an Institution 10 be made a holiday; II
should be observed IN the spirit in which
II was set aside. The great calamities
and cruel events which are fresh in the
minds OF many OF us has made IL seem
right that a day should be set aside for
the express purpose OF hOnOring the coun-
try'S heroes II we have in us a spark
OF patriotism we shall not fail TO remem-
Der the true significance OF the day. We
must hear IN mind that the first few years
after the war the graves OF unnumbered
soldiers remained unmarked. save for a
little plain board until loyal women in
stituted TIE custom.
II was the writer's privilege a few
months aGO 10 stand on the spot where
Memorial Day was first Instituted and 20
gather facts OF importance with refer
ence 10 IL. Strange as IL may seem TO US
vet II Is true the day was first observed
on Confederate SOIL by man and his
wife with FIVE women from one OF the
suburban towns Of Boston. IL seems that
they were the first In educating the int
crate freedman: they were assigned to
the public schools of Richmond. Va. In
May, 1856, proposition was made that
deck with flowers the graves OF Union
soldiers who had been prisoners. The
plan met with hearty response. ana
so May 30th was the day decided upon.
The day previous the children OF white
families and those OF the COlOred enrolled
as scholars by request brought all the
flowers they could find In the evening
the teachers assembled In the kitchen
or one OF the families and made beautiful
wreaths and bouquets The next day. the
Both. I'm spite Of a gentle rain and thick
mist, the little band eight In all, six wo-
men and two men. started for Belle Isle
on their errand Of love. The weather
caused no DELAY I'm the ceremony First a
cross was placed among the little mounds.
then a bouquet was nailed upon each
headboard this being done, the little
company gathered about the cross, when
one woman who had been nurse IN the
hospital sang 4 hymn. the rest joining
IN The refrain. After the hymn was I'M
ished suddenly the clouds parted, and a
beam of sunlight rested on the cross az
that moment the little party knelt IN
prayer. This ended the ceremony This
was the first memorial Observance: but
what a beautiful picturel The thick mist,
the bare hillside on the islet, the rude
graves. the riff In the clouds. and the
sunlight on the cross, Inc hearts OF tnat
little company must have been filled with
In 1867 the women OF Richmond deco
rated the graves OF the Confederates IN
Hollywood Cemetery on May 3Oth. which
they agreed - call Memorial Day, ana
to-day south Of Mason and Dixon line
fhis day IL observed. In 1858 the Grand
Army. acting under General John A. lo-
gan, who was then a member OF Con
gress. took up the subject Congress is
eued a general order designating the Both
OF Nav for the purpose OF Strewing or
decorating ne graves OF comrades IN
every cemetery all over our land with
flowers. and no grave Is passed without
some tribute OF love plaosa S VeTE -
sDrlnsasld. May q. 1895 .-'---...-.--s