It began with ‘General Order No. 11’
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America.
It’s difficult to prove the origins of this day as over two dozen towns and cities lay claim to be the birthplace.
In May 1966, President Lyndon Johnson stepped in and officially declared Waterloo, N.Y., the birthplace of Memorial Day.
Regardless of the location of origins or the exact date, one thing is crystal clear: Memorial Day was born of the Civil War (which ended in 1865) and a desire to honor our war dead.
On May 5, 1868, Gen. John Logan, who was the national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, officially proclaimed it in his General Order No. 11.
• Headquarters of the Grand Army of the Republic, General Orders No. 11, Washington, D.C., May 5, 1868:
“1. 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.
“2. 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.”
This is an excerpt from Logan’s General Order No. 11. It can be read in its entirety at usmemorialday.org/.