How Memorial Day Did Become a National Holiday?

Memorial Day was earlier known as Decoration Day and is observed on the last Monday of May. The day is marked in the history of United States of America every year as a tribute to all the men and women who lost their lives in various military operations while serving their country. The history of Memorial Day reveals that it started way back in 1967 when women in the south started decorating the graves on a particular day after the end of the Civil War. However, official information shows that its birthplace was Waterloo, New York and was started by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. The mystery behind the origin of Memorial Day from the History of United States is still a debatable topic.

General John Logan, who was the commander of Grand Army, passed a General Order in the year 5th May 1868, officially declaring 30th May 1868 to be celebrated as the first Memorial Day. The graves of soldiers were decorated with flowers. However, some of the states such as Mississippi were still at large about giving recommendation to this day. Mississippi celebrated its Decoration Day on April 25, 1866 with decorating the graves of Union and Confederate deaths.

The matter came into light of the congress activists and a bill was passed on June 28, 1968, in which a federal law was passed altering the national holidays and including Memorial Day as national holiday across all states. The federal Law also shifted the date of the occasion from May 30 to the last Monday of May, marking a 3 days weekend dedicated to the lost lives.

Traditionally the day was celebrated by people observing graves and cemeteries. The national Flag was hoisted half down and a national movement was observed at 3 pm. The traditional values of the day are being neglected at some places. While a majority of places host parades and celebrations to remember the lost lives, but still there are places where no parades have been followed for quite a long time now. However, the government and local boy scouts are trying their best to decorate the graves and pay tribute to US deceased lives. The government introduced a National Movement of Remembrance in December 2000, asking every American to observe a moment of silence on 3pm of Memorial Day in regard of the US military officials who lost their lives in various Wars.













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