Memorial Day, 2005
“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 and 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.”
Major General Jonathan A. Logan. (General Logan shared the podium with Abraham Lincoln at the Gettysburg Address, and is probably somewhere in this photo taken at the address.)
“The strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves,” led to the alternative name, “Decoration Day.”
In 1971,President Richard Nixon declared Memorial Day a federal holiday on the last Monday in May.
On the Friday before each Memorial Day, soldiers of the “Old Guard”
Third U.S. Infantry place over two hundred thousand flags on each of the graves of soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
A special thanks to the veterans of World War II.
It is estimated that 1,800
American veterans of WW II die each day.
