| Since ancient times, people around the world have | | | | legal public holiday across the nation. The |
| been decorating the graves of fallen soldiers and | | | | observance date of the holiday on the last |
| loved ones. American Memorial Day activities date | | | | Monday in May was passed on June 28, 1968 and |
| back to the Civil War between 1861 and 1865 | | | | actually took effect in 1971. |
| when an incredible number of approximately | | | | The White House Commission on Remembrance |
| 497,832 soldiers were killed in this nation. This | | | | was created in 1996 which promotes activities |
| powerful devastation was a solemn demand for | | | | appropriate for the holiday, encourages American |
| recognition and remembrance of these fallen | | | | citizens to participate in a National Moment of |
| soldiers. Women began decorating the graves of | | | | Remembrance, and promotes the education of |
| both sides, and the New York Times called this | | | | our children about the meaning of the holiday. A |
| activity the "healing touch for the nation." | | | | National Moment of Remembrance of 3:00 P.M. on |
| Several cities formally began a Memorial Day | | | | the holiday was created by a law that passed on |
| observance in the time period between 1864 and | | | | December 28, 2000. |
| 1866 and several claim to be the site of the | | | | The red poppy tradition that many are familiar |
| earliest remembrance of this holiday. Those cities | | | | with began after World War I, when a few ladies |
| include Boalsburg, Pennsylvania; Vicksburg, | | | | began selling poppies in their efforts to raise funds |
| Mississippi; Waterloo, New York; Carbondale, Illinois; | | | | for families affected by the war. The poem "In |
| Winchester, Virginia; and Columbus, Mississippi. | | | | Flanders Fields" written by Canadian Colonel John |
| President Lyndon Johnson formally recognized | | | | Mcrae in 1915 was the inspiration of this tradition. |
| Waterloo, New York as the official Memorial Day | | | | Today, cities and communities across the nation |
| birthplace in 1966. | | | | continue to remember and observe the holiday |
| One of the first official observances of the | | | | with ceremonies that include prayers, speeches, |
| holiday was issued by a general on May 5, 1868 in | | | | singing "The Star Spangled Banner," and the |
| which he ordered that flowers and decorations | | | | playing of "Taps." It is very fitting that the city of |
| should be strewn on the graves of comrades | | | | Washington D.C. holds the most elaborate holiday |
| along with fitting services and testimonials on May | | | | observation with musical tributes performed by |
| 30. He asked that it continue every year and also | | | | the National Symphony Orchestra, the U.S. Army |
| requested the press to lend their services to call | | | | Band and the U. S. Navy Band, an American flag |
| attention to remembering and observing this day | | | | ceremony, a parade and the laying of wreaths |
| in that manner. | | | | during various services. |
| Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, | | | | The laying of the wreath ceremony at the Tomb |
| and by 1890 many states, including the District of | | | | of the Unknown Soldiers at the Arlington National |
| Columbia had passed their own laws making it a | | | | Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia is one of the most |
| legal holiday on either May 30 or May 31. The | | | | dramatic ceremonies and remembrances of the |
| congress of the United States passed a law on | | | | history and meaning of the holiday during our |
| May 13, 1938 that made Memorial Day, May 30 a | | | | modern times. |