“A three day weekend is coming up… score!” I’m guilty of this same exact thought, but many of us forget the real reason for this three day weekend and fail to celebrate its actual meaning. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. The actual birthplace and date when Memorial Day started is unknown because many cities claim to be the birthplace. While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
Yes, it’s awesome to get a three day weekend every now and then, but the real reason why we have that three day weekend needs to be remembered! For more information about the history of Memorial Day and events that are held in different parts of the country go to: http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html.
by Hannah Chenetski
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