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'''Memorial Day''' also called '''Decoration Day''' is a day of remembrance for those who have died while serving in the military of the United States.  

'''Memorial Day''' also called '''Decoration Day''' is a day of remembrance for those who have died while serving in the military of the United States.  

==Origins==

==Origins==

By 1865 the practice of decorating soldiers' graves had become widespread in the North. General John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic--the society of Union Army veterans--called for all GAR posts to celebrate a "Decoration Day" on May 30, 1886. The northern states immediately adopted the holiday; Michigan, for example, made "Decoration Day" an official state holiday in 1871 and other northern states followed.  

By 1865 the practice of decorating soldiers' graves had become widespread in the North. General John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic--the society of Union Army veterans--called for all GAR posts to celebrate a "Decoration Day" on May 30, 1868. There were events in 183 cemeteries in 27 states in 1868, and 336 in 1869.. The northern states immediately adopted the holiday; Michigan made "Decoration Day" an official state holiday in 1871 and by 1890 every northern states followed suit. The ceremonies were sponsored by the Women's Relief Corps, with 100,000 members.

 

The Memorial Day speech became an occasion for veterans, politicians and ministers to commemorate the war--and at first to rehearse the atrocities of the enemy.  They mixed religion and celebratory nationalism and provided a means for the people to make sense of their history in terms of sacrifice for a better nation, one closer to God. People of all religious beliefs joined together, and the point was often made that the Germans and Irish soldiers had become true Americans in the "baptism of blood" on the battlefield.  By the end of the 1870s the rancor was gone and the speeches praised the brave soldiers both Blue and Gray.  By the 1950s, the theme was American exceptionalism and duty to uphold freedom in the world.

The preferred name gradually to "Memorial Day"; in 1971 the date was moved by Congress to the last Monday in May in order to ensure a three-day weekend.   

The preferred name gradually to "Memorial Day"; in 1971 the date was moved by Congress to the last Monday in May in order to ensure a three-day weekend.   

The large cities paid much less attention; their populations did not much remember the Civil War since they grew primarily from European immigration after 1865.  Memorial Day was a observed primarily by the the towns and small cities of the North as a sacred day when the war dead are mourned, the spirit of redemptive sacrifice is extolled and pledges to American ideals are renewed.

The large cities paid much less attention; their populations did not much remember the Civil War since they grew primarily from European immigration after 1865.  Memorial Day was a observed primarily by the the towns and small cities of the North as a sacred day when the war dead are mourned, the spirit of redemptive sacrifice is extolled and pledges to American ideals are renewed.

===South===

===South===

The Southern states had their own Memorial Day, ranging from April 26 to June 3.  

 

Beginning in 1866 the Southern states had their own Memorial Day, ranging from April 26 to mid June. The birthday of Confederate President [[Jefferson Davis]], June 3, became a state holiday in 10 states by 1916.

Across the South associations were founded during and after the War Between the States to establish and care for permanent cemeteries for Confederate soldiers, organize commemorative ceremonies, and sponsor impressive monuments as a permanent way of remembering the Confederate tradition. Women provided the leadership in these associations, paving the way to establish themselves as capable of public leadership.  

Across the South associations were founded during and after the War Between the States to establish and care for permanent cemeteries for Confederate soldiers, organize commemorative ceremonies, and sponsor impressive monuments as a permanent way of remembering the Confederate tradition. Women provided the leadership in these associations, paving the way to establish themselves as capable of public leadership.  

The earliest Confederate Memorial Day celebrations were simple, sober occasions for veterans and their families to honor the day and attend to local cemeteries. Around 1890, there was a shift from this consolatory emphasis on honoring specific soldiers to public commemoration of the Confederate "Lost cause." Changes in the ceremony's hymns and speeches reflect an evolution of the ritual into a symbol of cultural renewal and conservatism in the South.  

The earliest Confederate Memorial Day celebrations were simple, sober occasions for veterans and their families to honor the day and attend to local cemeteries. Around 1890, there was a shift from this consolatory emphasis on honoring specific soldiers to public commemoration of the Confederate "Lost Cause." Changes in the ceremony's hymns and speeches reflect an evolution of the ritual into a symbol of cultural renewal and conservatism in the South. By 1913, however, the theme of American nationalism shared equal time with the Lost Cause.

The ceremonies and Memorial Day address at Gettysburg National Park were nationally famous, starting in 1868. However not until 1913, was a Southerners asked to give the main address. In July 1913, veterans of the United States and Confederate armies gathered in Gettysburg to commemorate the fifty-year anniversary of the Civil War's bloodiest and most famous battle. The four-day "Blue-Gray Reunion" featured parades, reenactments, and speeches from a host of dignitaries, including President [[Woodrow Wilson]], the first Southerner in the White House since the War. Congressman James Heflin of Alabama was given that honor of the main address. He was a famous orator; two of his best-known speeches were an endorsement of the Lincoln Memorial and his introduction of a bill to make Mother's Day a holiday, but his choice as Memorial Day speaker was met with criticism. He was opposed for his racism. But his speech was moderate, stressing national unity and goodwill, and the newspapers, including those who opposed his invitation to speak, praised him.   

The ceremonies and Memorial Day address at Gettysburg National Park were nationally famous, starting in 1868. However not until 1913, was a Southerners asked to give the main address. In July 1913, veterans of the United States and Confederate armies gathered in Gettysburg to commemorate the fifty-year anniversary of the Civil War's bloodiest and most famous battle. The four-day "Blue-Gray Reunion" featured parades, reenactments, and speeches from a host of dignitaries, including President [[Woodrow Wilson]], the first Southerner in the White House since the War. Congressman James Heflin of Alabama was given that honor of the main address. He was a famous orator; two of his best-known speeches were an endorsement of the Lincoln Memorial and his introduction of a bill to make Mother's Day a holiday, but his choice as Memorial Day speaker was met with criticism. He was opposed for his racism. But his speech was moderate, stressing national unity and goodwill, and the newspapers, including those who opposed his invitation to speak, praised him.   

* Bellah, Robert N. "Civil Religion in America." ''Daedalus'' 1967 96(1): 1-21. [http://www.questia.com/read/5012186009?title=Civil%20Religion%20in%20America online edition]

* Bellah, Robert N. "Civil Religion in America." ''Daedalus'' 1967 96(1): 1-21. [http://www.questia.com/read/5012186009?title=Civil%20Religion%20in%20America online edition]

* Blight, David W.  "Decoration Day: The Origins of Memorial Day in North and South" in Alice Fahs and Joan Waugh, eds. ''The Memory of the Civil War in American Culture'' (2004), [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst;jsessionid=L6pd2pVHvN4hNrwFhL4rdT3RWpyp8wJMS676zdVQdVhd8Wc0YGTn!-64009190?a=o&d=113423562 online edition] pp 94-129; the standard scholarly history

* Blight, David W.  "Decoration Day: The Origins of Memorial Day in North and South" in Alice Fahs and Joan Waugh, eds. ''The Memory of the Civil War in American Culture'' (2004), [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst;jsessionid=L6pd2pVHvN4hNrwFhL4rdT3RWpyp8wJMS676zdVQdVhd8Wc0YGTn!-64009190?a=o&d=113423562 online edition] pp 94-129; the standard scholarly history

* Blight, David W.  ''Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory'' (2000)

** Blight, David W.  ''Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory'' (2000) ch. 3, "Decorations" [http://www.amazon.com/Race-Reunion-Civil-American-Memory/dp/0674008197/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243164970&sr=1-5 excerpt and text search]

* Buck, Paul H. ''The Road to Reunion, 1865-1900'' (1937)

* Buck, Paul H. ''The Road to Reunion, 1865-1900'' (1937)

* Cherry, Conrad. "Two American Sacred Ceremonies: Their Implications for the Study of Religion in America," ''American Quarterly'', Vol. 21, No. 4 (Winter, 1969), pp. 739-754 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2711606 in JSTOR]  

* Cherry, Conrad. "Two American Sacred Ceremonies: Their Implications for the Study of Religion in America," ''American Quarterly'', Vol. 21, No. 4 (Winter, 1969), pp. 739-754 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2711606 in JSTOR]