Memorial Day: History and Meaning

Well, it's that time again. Many Americans view Memorial Day as not much more than the start of the summer season. Most of us will be barbecuing, gathering with family and friends, maybe even doing some shopping. While enjoying the long weekend we hope you'll take a moment to remember the meaning of Memorial Day and perhaps even pass it on to someone.

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. Memorial Day is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873.

In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."

We hope you'll have a wonderful, long weekend with family and friends and we also hope that while you're doing that you'll remember and appreciate those who have fallen for our country this Memorial Day.