History of Memorial Day

Celebrated on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day is a known as a day of remembrance. Originally known as Decoration Day, this holiday honors military personal who died during their service to the nation. Although this holiday is renowned throughout America, not much is known about its true history.

The origins of Memorial Day are traced back to the Civil War era. The story is that a group of former slaves in Charleston, South Carolina started this holiday shortly after the surrender of the Confederacy in 1865. After the war ended, they decorated the graves of the fallen Union soldiers with flowers, which led to the prior name of “Decoration Day”.

A few years later, in 1868, the first official Decoration Day was celebrated. General John A. Logan, a director of a Northern Civil War Veterans organization, declared a day for decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. The date May 30^th was selected because he believed the flowers would have bloomed nationwide.

The purpose of Memorial Day is often confused with Veterans Day, which is a national holiday celebrated November 11^th. While Veterans Day recognizes the veterans of the country, Memorial Day is dedicated to the fallen soldiers of America. These two holidays serve commemorate those in the Army.

Celebrating Memorial Day is different for everyone. Some wear a red poppy to respect the fallen, a tradition that originated from World War I poem “In Flanders Fields”. Visiting cemeteries or attending parades or services is another common way of recognizing service members. In Doylestown, the annual Memorial Day parade was held May 31^st. This parade featured various performers, including marching bands, dancers, firemen, and more. The parade stretched a mile long, starting with a flag ride at War Memorial Field, and traveling from Central Bucks High School West to the Doylestown Cemetery, finishing with a thirty-minute memorial service.