The history of Memorial Day by Van Warren Walter Louisiana State Content Writer
The tradition dates back to pre-Civil War times. Since there are no official records, it is hard to pinpoint the exact date and place. On June 3rd, 1861, the first grave of a Civil War soldier was decorated with flowers in Warrenton, Virginia. This day became known as Decoration Day. The practice of decorating soldiers’ graves was celebrated in cemeteries at different times of the year.
On Decoration Day, people would get together to decorate fallen soldiers’ graves with wreaths and flowers. During the Civil War, 1861-1865, 850,000 lives were lost. This day helped to heal the North and the South. It was an accepted day to mourn and remember the soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
The term Memorial Day was first used in May 1882. The name Memorial day was not widely used until after WWII. In 1968, Congress decided to pass a law. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act combined and moved four Decoration Days to the last Monday in May.
Today, we celebrate the last Monday in May as Memorial Day. The day the entire nation remembers those who gave their lives for this nation. We celebrate with parades, picnics, the visiting of and the decorating of graves.
The most well-known event is the placing of wreaths at the tombs of the unknown soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery across the Potomac River near Washington, D. C. I’ve had the fortune to visit Arlington many times and to see the changing of the guard at the tombs of the unknowns. It is a solemn, dignified ceremony that brings adults to tears especially veterans who understand what these unknown men underwent in the fight for this nation.
Remember this quote, “All gave some, Some gave all.”
Celebrate Memorial Day with the Convention of States in Baton Rouge.
The Baton Rouge Concert Band will perform a Memorial Day concert on Monday, May 30 at 7 p.m. on the Plaza at the Main Library 7711 Goodwood Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Their performance is dedicated to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. The band will be playing an assortment of big band and American Songbook music from the likes of Stephen Foster, the Gershwin’s, and Leonard Bernstein.
They will also be playing marches and patriotic compositions including “Nobles of the Mystic Shrine,” “Washington Post,” “America the Beautiful,” “Missing Man,” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.” We will be setting up at 6:00 PM near the Library front door.
