The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-30
The Origin of Memorial Day.

The Origin of Memorial Day.
 Written by BenJaman NJ. Blackburn of Atlanta, Ga. for the Ladies Memo rial Association, April 23. 1905.
 In answer to the honor implied in your request that I prepare an article. defining the difference between Me morial Day" and Decoration Day" in order that these days may never be confounded by the children of the South, 1t gives me pleasure to submit the following. as the truth of history:
 Memorial Day" Is of Southern origin and application. It stands as the day initiative when honor is done to patri- otic soldiers, who fought and fell in de- fense of cause so sacred as heaven is just. It was adopted more than two years before Decoration Day" was even suggested fin the North.
 The incident that suggested this epiphany of the Souther cause, is one glowing volume which has made his- toric the Southern character. accentu- Rting the coupIet,
 '.The tenderest are the truest,
 The loving are the daring"
 A number of ladies representing the Soldiers Aid society. of Columbus. Ga, visited. on March 12, 1866. Linwood cemetery. to give spring dressing to the graves of Confederate soldiers. While attending this duty they ob- served the little daughter of Mrs. Will Hams gathering wild flowers. and plac- ipg them on the graves of the unknown Confederate dead. Thus the immortal suggestion of organized rememprance was given to these loyal Southern wo- men by the inborn patriotism of a lit- tie child: Memorial Day had It's origin in the impulse that gave birth to the Confederate cause Innocent devotion to the Southern home.
 On returning to their homes these true Southern women decided that day to organize the first Memorial associ- Rtion that was instituted in the South, and with a view to making 1t general. Mrs. Mary Ann Howard Williams gave her name and the names of her asso- riates to glory, by addressing letter 10 The Columbus Times, which will ev- er remain 2 part of the 4mperishable service. From this eloquent appeal l exact the following stirring sentences:
 "The ladies are now, and have been, for several days, engaged in the sad, but pleasant duty of ornamenting and improving that portion of the city cemetery sacred to the memory of our gallant Confederate dead; but we feel 1t is an unfinished work, unless day be set apart annually for its special att tention. We cannot raise monumental shafts. and inscribe thereon their man. " ueeuS or neTOlSm, put we Cdn kecp alive the memory of the debt We owe them, by dedicating at least one day in each year to embelllshing their humble graves with flowers.
 Let the soldiers graves, for that day at least, be the Southern Mecca, tc whose shrine her sorrowing women, like pilgrims, may annually bring their grateful hearts. and floral offerings When we remember the thousands who were buried with their martial cloaks around them" without Christian cerA- mony of interment, we would invoke the aid of the most thrilling eloquence throughout the land, to inaugurate this custom, by delivering, on the appoint ed day, 26th of April, this year. a eulo- BY on the unburied dead of our glori- ous Southern army. They died for theis country
 "The proud banner under which they rallied in defense of the holiest and noblest cause for which heroes ever fought or trusting women prayed, has been furled forever. The country for which they suffered and died, has now