Decoration Day

Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was known from its creation in 1868 until after WWII, was observed yesterday.

General John Logan who was the National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued General Orders No. 11, May 5, 1868, which said, in part: "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. . ."

The May 30th day for Decoration Day was adopted by many states beginning with New York in 1873, and by all the northern states by 1890. The southern states refused to adopt it and maintained their own dates until after WWI when the date became a day to commemorate fallen soldiers from all our wars.

As the day became more and more a day to remember all our nation's war dead, the name Memorial Day, which was first used during the 1860's but didn't become common until after WWII, began to be used to designate the day. Finally, in 1967, the Federal Government officially designated the day as Memorial Day.

The May 30th observance was changed to the last Monday in May effective January, 1971, having been signed into law in 1968 (Uniform Monday Holiday Act, P.L. 90-363).

With the change to a three-day weekend many people believe its true significance as a day to remember our war dead has become lost in the festivities of the long weekend which is now known more as the beginning of summer.

There is a movement to return to tradition both in date and intent. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), along with some other groups, has been active encouraging a return of the observation to the traditional day of May 30th. The VFW proclaims: "Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day."

To help encourage a respect for the original meaning of the day, President Clinton, on May 3, 2000, signed a Memorandum establishing a National Moment of Remembrance, ". . .to promote a "Natitional Moment of Remembrance" to occur. . .on each Memorial Day." This act was to encourage ". . .Americans everywhere, to pause for one minute at 3:00 p.m. (local time), to remember and reflect on the sacrifices made by so many to provide freedom for all."

Finally I'd like to draw your attention to a poem by Charles M. Province:

It Is The Soldier

It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

Charles Michael Province, U.S. Army Copyright Charles M. Province, 1970, 2005