Memorial Day - When Did It Start

When I was thinking about Memorial Day and what it means to the nation, I went to a source that is directly involved with veterans, The Department of Veterans Affairs. There is a wealth of information on their web pages including a library of historical information. The following story is gleaned for their collection from the VA's Office of Public Affairs.

THE ORIGINS of MEMORIAL DAY

Three years after the Civil War ended, the head of the organization of Union veterans - the Grand Army of the Republic - established Decoration Day on May 5, 1868. Set aside to place flowers on the graves of war dead. It was changed to May 30 by a Gen. Logan because he believed more flowers would be in bloom then.

The first observance was at Arlington Cemetery that year with Gen. Ulysses S. Grant presided over the ceremonies. Flowers were then strewn on both Union and Confederate graves.

Springtime tributes to Civil War dead had been held in various places after the conflict.  April of 1866 women visited a cemetery in Columbus, Mississippi to put flowers on Confederate graves. Union graves were neglected because they were the enemy. The women were upset by the site so they place flowers on their graves too.

A number of cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. Boalsburg, Pa., Carbondale, Ill, Macon and Columbus, Ga. as well as Richmond, Va. In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y. the "birthplace of Memorial Day.  This community wide event took place on May 5, 1866.

By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held across the nation. It wasn't until after World War I that the day was expanded to honor those who died in all the wars. Memorial was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress in 1971.

Many southern states have their own days for honoring the Confederate dead. Mississippi has Confederate Memorial Day, Texas calls theirs Confederate Heroes Day and Louisiana and Tennessee celebrates Confederate Decoration Day.

In December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law "The National Moment of Remembrance Act." The act encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who died in service to the nation.

If you are interested in military traditions and American history you can go to www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate_americas_freedoms.asp. This is the U.S. Department of Veterans  (VA) web site.

Headstones and Markers for Deceased Veterans

   When a Veteran passes away, there are benefits that the VA, your state and service organizations offer. The funeral home should have the necessary forms to apply for burial benefits and markers: VA Form 40-1330, Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker
  The county where the Veteran lived might also offer a stipend to help with burial expenses. As ask the funeral home or at your county offices. Below is information from the www.va.gov website about what they offer.

   

     The Department of Veterans Affairs will furnish upon request and at no charge to the applicant, a Government headstone or marker for the  unmarked grave of any deceased eligible Veteran in any cemetery around the world, regardless of their date of death.

    For eligible veterans that died on or after Nov. 1, 1990 and whose grave is marked with a privately purchased headstone, VA may also furnish a headstone or marker to supplement the graves or a Medallion to be affixed to a privately purchased headstone.

   Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze and upright headstones in granite and marble are available. Bronze niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for internment of cremated remains. The style chosen must be permitted by the officials in charge of the private cemetery where it will be placed.

    When burial or moralization is in a national cemetery, state Veterans' cemetery, or military post/base cemetery, a headstone or marker will be ordered by the cemetery officials based on inscription information provided by the next of kin or authorized representative.

   When burial or moralization is in a national cemetery, state Veterans' cemetery, or military post/base cemetery, a headstone or marker will be ordered by the cemetery officials based on inscription information provided by the next of kin or authorized representative.

   Spouses and dependents are not eligible for a Government-furnished headstone or marker unless they are buried in a national cemetery, state Veteran's cemetery, or military post/base cemetery.

   Note: There is no charge for the headstone or marker itself, however arrangements for placing it in a private cemetery are the applicant's responsibility and all setting fees are at private expense.