Memorial Day recognizes and honors the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the Armed Forces. The first national observance of Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery. General John A. Logan, Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed: “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.” More than 5,000 people attended the tribute in Washington, DC, decorating the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers.
Originally known as Decoration Day, New York was the first state to officially recognize the holiday to honor fallen soldiers and sailors. By the 1890s, most states had adopted May 30 as a Decoration Day holiday. Following World War I, the practice of Memorial Day became much more widespread as an occasion to honor fallen service members from all of America’s wars.
Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30 until Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, designating it a national holiday on the last Monday in May 1971. Congress once again took up the cause of honoring fallen service members in 2000, passing the National Moment of Remembrance Act. At 3 p.m. on Memorial Day, all Americans are encouraged to pause for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to our nation.
Public Law 90-363: An Act to Provide for Uniform Annual Observances of Certain Legal Public Holidays on Mondays, and for Other Purposes, June 28, 1968. National Archives, General Records of the U.S. Government
View in National Archives Catalog
Additional resources for more information:
- National Archives News: Memorial Day: A Commemoration
- Prologue Blog: The Nation's Sacrifice: The Origins and Evolution of Memorial Day
- Prologue Magazine: Honoring Our War Dead: The Evolution of the Government Policy on Headstones for Fallen Soldiers and Sailors
Featured Image: U.S. Air Force members hold a flag-draped coffin during a full-honor funeral for U.S. Air Force Second Lieutenant Richard Vandegeer at Arlington National Cemetery, October 27, 2000. National Archives, Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense View in National Archives Catalog
