Given that Memorial Day is almost here, some may wonder just what Memorial Day history consisted of. Things like where, how, and when it was began, and how it became official and so on. So before we all head off to the lake, here’s the scoop on Memorial Day.
Article Resource: A Brief Memorial Day History Lesson By Personal Money Store
Memorial Day history starts with the Civil War
It wasn't really called Memorial Day at first. The exact first observance is a matter of debate, but what is known is that right after the conclusion of the Civil War, which certain states have not received the memo about yet, days of remembrance were observed by decorating the graves of the fallen. Initially, it was actually called Decoration Day, not probably the most imaginative of names. (We have one of the most drab names for holidays in this country. Maybe some cash until payday loan for a study group to come up with better names would be in order.)
Veterans get involved
Two Army Generals, John Murray and John Logan took note of an observance of Decoration Day on May 5, 1866 in Waterloo, New York. John Logan really headed a fraternal organization for Union veterans called the Grand Army of the Republic. (It became the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War later.) On May 5, 1868, they announced that on May 30 they would observe a Decoration Day, and urged others to do the same. Southern states, nevertheless reeling from a massive case of sour grapes, usually opposed it.
Memorial Day gets on the books
The name Memorial Day didn't become official until 1967. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which moved Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, and Washington’s Birthday which later became Presidents Day, to Mondays to make things easy for every person. Ever given that then, veterans groups are trying to get Congress to move it back to May 30 because Mondays are quite hard to discover on calendars. Monday, May 31, will be Memorial Day 2010.
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Memorial Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day
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