 |
| Memorial Day is still solemnly observed with parades and cemetery services like this one in Kansas. |
Today is, of course, Memorial Day
in the United States. The Uniform Holiday Act, passed
in 1968, set 1971 as the year the Federal government would begin
observing the holiday on the last Monday of May giving Americans a three
day holiday weekend to start the summer season, to be balanced by a three day Labor
Day weekend in September.
But this year we are spared the still simmering resentment of some Veteran’s groups over unmooring
the commemoration from its traditional date, May 30. The serendipity
of the calendar has called a truce on that one for this
year
Veteran’s organization were nearly
unanimous in opposition to the move fearing that it would dilute the
observance as families planed fun activities instead of solemnly commemorating the war dead.
Several states refused at first to
change their observances in conformity with the Federal law creating two Memorial Day holidays.
That proved unworkable and
eventually all fell in line.
Of course the veterans groups were right. Attendance at their parades
and cemetery services dropped off in favor of barbeque parties or a day at the beach.
The origins of the solemn rituals go back to the end of
the Civil War. Almost as soon as the firing stopped communities were gathering
to honor their dead, which in the sentimental
19th Century naturally meant
trekking out to local grave yards to festoon
the graves with flowers.
Some credit the first organized
commemoration to Confederate widows.
 |
| Many believe that these freed slaves from Charleston, South Carolina held the first Memorial Day when the reburried Yankee prisoners who had died in a Confederate prisoner of war camp and dedicated the cemetery for the Union dead that they created with their own hands on May 5, 1865. |
Others claim that former slaves
in Charleston, South Carolina originated it when they reburied Union soldiers who died in a Confederate prisoner of war
camp there and dedicated the
cemetery they created as a Union
graveyard. A local paper
said that up to 10,000 people, mostly former slaves, were present for a
dedication of the graveyard on May 1, 1865 marking the occasion with singing and prayers.
Some kind of local observances
sprang up in towns and cities both north and south. Waterloo, New York
lays claim to the first Decoration Day, as it became known with an observance on May 5, 1865. It was
surely just one of many. But
the friendship of the local leader of
the celebration, General John Murray with General John A. Logan, the first Commander-in-Chief
of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R) planted the idea of creating a national observance. On May 5,
1868 Logan issued G.A.R. General Order No. 11 instructing local posts to participate:
i.
The 30th
day 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, and whose bodies now lie in almost every
city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form
of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange
such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.
We are organized, comrades, as our
regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving
and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together
the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late
rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing
tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade
between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom
to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms.
We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated
wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a
fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread
rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going
of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect,
no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we
have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.
If other eyes grow dull, other hands
slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as
long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.
Let us, then, at the time appointed
gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above
them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear
old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our
pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge
upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.
- It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to lend its friendly aid in bringing to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith…
To this day, Logan’s order is often read at Memorial Day observances conducted by the American
Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other veterans organizations.
 |
| General John A. Logan, first Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic issued the order establishing Decoration Day as an annual national observance in 1868. |
Decoration Day was soon
observed across the North, and at Union cemeteries in the South. For many
years it was confined to the Yankee dead and was thus boycotted by Southern states, most of
which designated their own separate
memorial days for the Confederate
Dead. It was not until after the Spanish American War in 1898
in which Southerners served in arms under the Stars and Stripes once
again, that the notion began to spread
of honoring all of the war dead—although
this was fought tooth and nail by
the GAR. The South began to share the May 30th date, but tended to call their observances
Memorial Days to differentiate them from the GAR’s Decoration Days.
 |
| This greeting card is typical of the era between the Spanish American War and World War I when there were attempts at national reconciliation by including the Confederate dead in Decoration Day ceremonies. |
After World War I it
became common to include the dead of
that war—and later all wars—in
the commemorations and the use of the term Memorial Day became more common even
in the North. But it was not until 1967 the Congress officially changed the name.
In 1915 Moina Michael of Georgia, inspired
by the poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae conceived of
the idea of making and selling paper flowers for the support of maimed soldiers. When
the U.S. entered the war in 1917 she began selling her poppies on
Decoration Day to honor the dead of all wars. She later donated proceeds
to French and Belgian war orphans. The poppy tradition spread to other Allied countries. After the relief organization she had been donating to disbanded after the War, Michel approached the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, who adopted Memorial Day poppy sales in 1922. Two years
later they inaugurated their annual Buddy Poppy sales. Soon no respectable American would be seen on the streets on Memorial Day
without a Poppy.
 |
| Moina Michael who began the tradition of making and selling red poppies for the war dead after reading the poem In Flanders Fields. was honored by this 1948 postage stamp four years after her death. |
These days the tradition of
decorating soldier’s graves is kept
alive by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and veteran’s organizations who place small flags on the graves of
veterans, not only at National Cemeteries, but in local graveyards as
well. Many cities and towns still hold parades, General
Logan’s Order is read, prayers are
uttered, politicians orate, high school bands play patriotic music,
and sometimes straggling lines of
elderly veterans rattle off vollies of rifle fire in salute of the flag.
That’s the way it will be in my town. Then we will come home and burn the hell out of some brats. How about you?
No comments:
Post a Comment