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'''Memorial Day''' previously called '''Decoration Day''' is a day of remembrance for those who have died while serving in the military of the [[United States]]. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of [[Congress]] and the date to observe the holiday was set as the last Monday in May. <ref>http://www1.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp#hist</ref>  

'''Memorial Day''' previously called ''Decoration Day'' is a day of remembrance for those who have died while serving in the military of the [[United States]]. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of [[Congress]] and the date to observe the holiday was set as the last Monday in May. <ref>http://www1.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp#hist</ref>  

 

==Origins and practice==

==Origins and practice==

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 quickly adopted the holiday; Michigan made "Decoration Day" an official state holiday in 1871 and by 1890 every northern state followed suit. The ceremonies were sponsored by the Women's Relief Corps, with 100,000 members.

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 quickly adopted the holiday; Michigan made "Decoration Day" an official state holiday in 1871 and by 1890 every northern state followed suit. The ceremonies were sponsored by the Women's Relief Corps, with 100,000 members.

By 1870, the remains of nearly 300,000 Union dead had been buried in 73 national cemeteries, located mostly in the South, near the battlefields. The most famous are the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Pennsylvania and the Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington.  

By 1870, the remains of nearly 300,000 Union dead had been buried in 73 national cemeteries, located mostly in the South, near the battlefields. The most famous are the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Pennsylvania and the Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington.  

 

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 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 Civil War so dominated the day that after [[World War I]], the new veterans pushed for their own "Armistice Day", now "Veterans Day" in November.

The Civil War so dominated the day that after [[World War I]], the new veterans pushed for their own "Armistice Day", now "Veterans Day" in November.

 

The preferred name gradually changed 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.  It marks the start of summer, just as Labor Day marks the end.

The preferred name gradually changed 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.  It marks the start of summer, just as Labor Day marks the end.

:Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that continues to this day. More recently, beginning in 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's Heights (the Luminaria Program). And in 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.  

:Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that continues to this day. More recently, beginning in 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's Heights (the Luminaria Program). And in 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.  

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== Ronald Reagan Speaks Of Memorial Day ==

== Ronald Reagan Speaks Of Memorial Day ==

''Remarks at a Memorial Day Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia May 26, 1986:''

''Remarks at a Memorial Day Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia May 26, 1986:''

{{cquote|'''Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It's a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It's a day to be with the family and remember.'''

{{cquote|<big>'''Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It's a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It's a day to be with the family and remember.'''</big>

'''I was thinking this morning that across the country children and their parents will be going to the town parade and the young ones will sit on the sidewalks and wave their flags as the band goes by. Later, maybe, they'll have a cookout or a day at the beach. And that's good, because today is a day to be with the family and to remember.'''

'''I was thinking this morning that across the country children and their parents will be going to the town parade and the young ones will sit on the sidewalks and wave their flags as the band goes by. Later, maybe, they'll have a cookout or a day at the beach. And that's good, because today is a day to be with the family and to remember.'''

'''Thank all of you, and God bless you, and have a day full of memories.'''<ref>[http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/regan-052686.htm Reagan remarks at a Memorial Day Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia May 26, 1986]</ref>}}

'''Thank all of you, and God bless you, and have a day full of memories.'''<ref>[http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/regan-052686.htm Reagan remarks at a Memorial Day Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia May 26, 1986]</ref>}}

==Further reading==

==Further reading==