Honoring the Fallen: The Origins and Evolution of Memorial Day

It’s a proclamation that would forever shape the American calendar. General John Logan, a Union veteran and leader of a Northern Civil War veterans’ organization, issued a day of remembrance for honoring the fallen in May of 1868.

“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,” Logan wrote. “And whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.”

---

Listen to this story here:

This particular day became known as Decoration Day. The first observance was marked by a solemn ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. General James Garfield, who would later become president, delivered a speech to a crowd of 5,000. Those gathered then put flowers on the graves of more than 20,000 Civil War soldiers

But as the United States entered additional conflicts—World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and more recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan—the idea of honoring those who died broadened. The day, now known as Memorial Day, evolved into a national tribute to all American military personnel who died in service to their country.

DID YOU KNOW? Wisconsin Info-Link shows there are more than 26,000 service members from the state who have died while on active duty – half of those were killed during the Civil War.   

Memorial Day also continued to be observed on May 30. This changed in 1968 when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, moving Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, creating a three-day weekend for federal workers. The law took effect in 1971, the same year Memorial Day was officially declared a federal holiday.

Today, Memorial Day is marked by parades in cities and towns across Wisconsin and the country, often featuring active-duty service members and veterans. Many Americans also continue the tradition of visiting cemeteries and war memorials. Some people will also wear red poppies, a tradition inspired by the World War I poem In Flanders Fields. It’s another way to honor the fallen. 

DID YOU KNOW?  In 2000, Congress designated 3 pm on Memorial Day as the local time for a National Moment of Remembrance.

And while the day carries a somber purpose, it also signals the unofficial start of summer. Families may gather for barbecues and weekend trips. It’s a blend of celebration and reflection. 

Memorial Day endures as a powerful reminder: freedom has a price, and remembering is our duty.

DID YOU KNOW? First, if you are planning to fly your U.S. flag on Memorial Day, officials with the Department of Veteran Affairs say it should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon. It should then be raised to the top of the staff until sunset. The proclamation on the proper times being issued by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954.