1st NATIONAL Memorial Day

[Remember1864]

Your thoughts...

Some argue that the first nationally recognized memorial day was in PA or IL. I for one believe that Virginia is the home of the Memorial Day as we know it. Specifically, Petersburg.

A local school teacher took her students to Blandford Cemetery to lay flowers on the graves of the June 9th heroes. This was noted by Mrs. Logan. Her husband, General John A. "BlackJack" Logan then wrote his famous General Order No. 11 making Memorial Day a National Observance, 5 May 1868.

Let the debate begin...

[Jimmayo]

Re: 1st NATIONAL Memorial Day

Petersburg was not the only city decorating it's war dead in the Spring. It just happens to be where Mrs. Logan was. From there the story is more or less documented. I think there is room in most peoples hearts not to particually care where Memorial Day started. The important thing is that it did. The problem as I see it is that most people think it is the day the pool opens.

[Dignann]

Re: 1st NATIONAL Memorial Day

Recently, historians have looked to Charleston, S.C. as one of the earliest "Decoration Day" events. On May 1, 1865, an estimated 10,000 people, mostly former slaves, participated in a remembrance. The procession included 3,000 black schoolchildren, and 300 black women carrying flowers, wreaths and crosses. They convened at the Race Course cemetery, where at least 257 Union soldiers who died at the Race Horse prison had been buried. Patriotic songs and speeches, by local black leaders, clergymen, and Union officers was preceded by the decorating of the graves.

Eric

[JimKindred]

Re: 1st NATIONAL Memorial Day

My hometown of Columbus, MS tried to lay claim to that too. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

Unfortunately too many have forgotten why we have Memorial Day.

[lambrew]

Re: 1st NATIONAL Memorial Day

If I remember right, at the start there were two "decoration days", one for the North, and one for the South. Jim ain't it the sad and sorry truth. No one seems to know what this holiday is for or how it started. I watch "Jay walking", and feel ill.

Respectfully....
Sean Collicott