New-York tribune., 1903-05-24
ORIGIN OF OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY.
UH1lT LED TO PROMULGATION OF FIRST ORDER TO
G. T. r. TO STREU' FLOWERS ON SOLDIERS CRATES.

departed comrades quietly TO become a Fart OF
general history but women l c9 TcHlg 10f i0o line and
then the custom found its way into the Northefn
distinguished soldier and no less distinguished as
a statesman then commander of the Grand Army
Iishment Of a National Memorial Day
General Logan issued the following order on
May s. 1858:
The thIrtieth day of May is designated for 1.-The the
rating the graves of comrades who died In defence
Of their country during the late reoellloh anu
and hamlet churchyard in the land In this OBJ OBJ
SeEvaneg d no ITad Ior Si viii in their own way
range such fitting services and testnon1as OK re re
ganized G comradss as our regulations tell for
the purpose among other things 0d drIsi feei
ngs which have bound together the soIdlers san I IL
pebeiiion.' Dsb nit% '''''''''S WIZ
What aid to assure this result btIoin than
cherishing tenderIy the memory or gu our bns heroio
dead. who made their breasts barricade between @
the reveiiIe of freedom TO a race in chains, and
their deaths, the tattoo OF rebellfous tyranny In
We should guard their graves with sacred acre Wig Wig
ance All that the GonseGdtea ; doTnInent and Sc
curity is but fitting tribute TO the memory OF nfr
on such halIowed grounds. Let pleasant paths IN,
vite the coming and going OF TeTerent VisDi i H or
fond mourners- Let no vandalism OF aoarIee Ot ~
neglect, ravages of time testify TO the presenI
or the coming generations that we nave 1orS9lleh
a people the cost of free and uhdlVldeu re-
Ms then. at the time appointed gather around
their sacred remains, and garland the passlohIesS
mounds above them with the choicest Mowers OF
springtime; let raise above them the Gear Ou
flag they saved from dshOnOr: let us IN TINS sol
emn presence renew pledges to aid ana as
sist those whom they have left among US a sacreI
charge upon a nations gratitude, the sOdler anu
sailors widows and orphans. ,,s g..
1t is the purpose Of the commander IN cIiet 70 70
inaugurate this observance with the hope that II
will be kept up from year year while survivor
Of the war remains honor the memory OF ms
deDarted comrades He earnestly desires the puDilc
press TO lend it's friendly aid In bringing 70 tne
notice of comrades IN all parts of the country III
time for simultaneous compliance thereW1th-
This celebration at all the Grand Army posts set
this beautiful example TO the people at large ana
the custom soon became a part OF the annuaI NE
OF the nation. New-York early. took the lead ana
engrafted a law upon her statute books maAlhS
MAY 30 a legal holiday. which action was also
taken by most OF the Northern and Western
States.
General Chapman attributed the honor of sug-
gesting a decoration day to Cincinnati soldier
whose letter concerning such custom In Germany
he laid before General Logan.
General John B. Murray. on the other hand. has
advanced the claim OF ceebration held at Water
town N Y May o. 1866. 1t has been shown that
General Logan often referred to his first Memo
rial Day order as the 'proudest act OF his lie,
and In the year 1t issued the first great Cd
servance was held Arlington Cemetery, with
General Arthur the orator.