We, Americans must not forget why Memorial Day is a holiday
and we should fly the American flag, and keep it flying through Flag Day, June
14. It will be one way to show that you are a true patriotic American. Semper Fi,
NOAH
The History of Memorial Day
Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating
graves with flowers, wreaths and flags, Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of
those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on
May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by
proclamation of Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an
organization of former Union sailors and soldiers.
During that first national celebration, former Union Gen. and sitting Ohio
Congressman James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after
which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000
Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there.
"We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word
they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the
highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death,
and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their
virtue."
- James A. Garfield
May
30, 1868 Arlington National Cemetery
This event was inspired by local observances of the day that had taken place
in several towns throughout America in the three years after the Civil War. In
1873, New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday.
By the late 1800s, many more cities and communities observed Memorial Day, and
several states had declared it a legal holiday. After World War I, it became an
occasion for honoring those who died in all of America’s wars and was then more
widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States.
When Is Memorial Day
In 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and established that
Memorial Day was to be celebrated on the last Monday of May. Several southern
states, however, officially celebrate an additional, separate day for honoring
the Confederate war dead, sometimes referred to as a Confederate Memorial Day:
January 19 in Texas; third Monday in Jan. in Arkansas; fourth Monday in Apr. in
Alabama and Mississippi; April 26 in Florida and Georgia; May 10 in North and
South Carolina; last Monday in May in Virginia; and June 3 in Louisiana and
Tennessee.
Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a
ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally,
the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.
We, Americans must not forget why Memorial Day is a holiday and we should fly the American flag, and keep it flying through Flag Day, June 14. It will be one way to show that you are a true patriotic American. Semper Fi, NOAH
The History of Memorial Day
Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating
graves with flowers, wreaths and flags, Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of
those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on
May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by
proclamation of Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an
organization of former Union sailors and soldiers.During that first national celebration, former Union Gen. and sitting Ohio Congressman James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there.
"We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue."This event was inspired by local observances of the day that had taken place in several towns throughout America in the three years after the Civil War. In 1873, New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday. By the late 1800s, many more cities and communities observed Memorial Day, and several states had declared it a legal holiday. After World War I, it became an occasion for honoring those who died in all of America’s wars and was then more widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States.
- James A. Garfield
May 30, 1868 Arlington National Cemetery
When Is Memorial Day
In 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and established that Memorial Day was to be celebrated on the last Monday of May. Several southern states, however, officially celebrate an additional, separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead, sometimes referred to as a Confederate Memorial Day: January 19 in Texas; third Monday in Jan. in Arkansas; fourth Monday in Apr. in Alabama and Mississippi; April 26 in Florida and Georgia; May 10 in North and South Carolina; last Monday in May in Virginia; and June 3 in Louisiana and Tennessee.Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally, the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.
Flag Day
In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It
commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on
that day in 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. The United
States Army also celebrates the Army Birthday on this date; Congress adopted
"the American continental army" after reaching a consensus position in the
Committee of the Whole on June 14, 1775.
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. Flag Day is not an official federal holiday. Title 36 of the United States Code, Subtitle I, Part A, CHAPTER 1, § 110 is the official statute on Flag Day; however, it is at the President's discretion to officially proclaim the observance. On June 14, 1937, Pennsylvania became the first U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday, beginning in the town of Rennerdale. New York Statutes designate the second Sunday in June as Flag Day, a state holiday.
Perhaps the oldest continuing Flag Day parade is at Fairfield, Washington. Beginning in 1909 or 1910, Fairfield has held a parade every year since, with the possible exception of 1918, and celebrated the "Centennial" parade in 2010, along with some other commemorative events.
Quincy, Massachusetts has had an annual Flag Day parade since 1952 and claims it "is the longest-running parade of its kind in the nation." The largest Flag Day parade is held annually in Troy, New York, which bases its parade on the Quincy parade and typically draws 50,000 spectators. In addition, the Three Oaks, MI Flag Day Parade is held annually on the weekend of Flag Day and is a three-day event and they claim to have the largest flag day parade in the nation as well as the oldest.
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. Flag Day is not an official federal holiday. Title 36 of the United States Code, Subtitle I, Part A, CHAPTER 1, § 110 is the official statute on Flag Day; however, it is at the President's discretion to officially proclaim the observance. On June 14, 1937, Pennsylvania became the first U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday, beginning in the town of Rennerdale. New York Statutes designate the second Sunday in June as Flag Day, a state holiday.
Perhaps the oldest continuing Flag Day parade is at Fairfield, Washington. Beginning in 1909 or 1910, Fairfield has held a parade every year since, with the possible exception of 1918, and celebrated the "Centennial" parade in 2010, along with some other commemorative events.
Quincy, Massachusetts has had an annual Flag Day parade since 1952 and claims it "is the longest-running parade of its kind in the nation." The largest Flag Day parade is held annually in Troy, New York, which bases its parade on the Quincy parade and typically draws 50,000 spectators. In addition, the Three Oaks, MI Flag Day Parade is held annually on the weekend of Flag Day and is a three-day event and they claim to have the largest flag day parade in the nation as well as the oldest.
