HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY ... MONDAY - MAY 29, 2017
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, yet it is difficult to prove conclusively the origin. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.
The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. After World War I the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring all Americans who died fighting in any war.
Memorial Day is now celebrated on the last Monday in May.
