Memorial Day began as a remembrance
of the Civil War dead often called
“Decoration Day”. It may have come
from women in the Mississippi River
area decorating the graves of
Confederate dead.
May 5, 1868: Gen. John Logan of the
Grand Army of the Republic proclaimed
May 30 as Memorial Day.
May 30, 1868: Flowers were placed
on the graves of both Union and
Confederate soldiers at Arlington Cemetery.