In the aftermath of the Civil War, the United States was a nation in need of healing. A day of remembrance was set aside to honor Civil War soldiers, brethren from North and South, who made the ultimate sacrifice. On May 5, 1868 General John A. Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic proclaimed May 30, 1868 as the first official Decoration Day:
General John A. Logan
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"The 30th 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 churchyard 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."
On that first Decoration Day people gathered at Arlington National Cemetery to hear General James Garfield honor the fallen. After his speech, 5,000 participants decorated the graves of more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers. Thus began a long tradition of healing and quiet contemplation.
Over the years Decoration Day came to be known as Memorial Day, commemorating those who gave their lives serving the nation in war. As the true meaning of Memorial Day dwindled, giving way to commercialism, there rose a need to restore the observance to its original intent. In December 2000, a resolution was passed to remind Americans of our soldiers' sacrifice. The "
National Moment of Remembrance" calls for all Americans to "voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps" at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day.
USS Arizona Memorial and the Battleship Missouri, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
"The USS Arizona is the final resting place for many of the ship's 1,177 crewmen who lost their lives on December 7, 1941. The 184-foot-long Memorial structure spanning the mid-portion of the sunken battleship consists of three main sections: the entry and assembly rooms; a central area designed for ceremonies and general observation; and the shrine room, where the names of those killed on the Arizona are engraved on the marble wall."
~National Park Service
Color the USS Arizona Memorial:
Learn more about the
World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
©2010 Tammy Yee
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