Several communities claim to have originated Memorial Day in the United States. However, a century after the fact, President Lyndon B. Johnson, in 1966, proclaimed Waterloo, New York the birthplace of the holiday. That is, on May 5, 1866, the citizens of Waterloo first officially endeavored to honor soldiers killed in the American Civil War. Businesses closed and people decorated soldiers' graves with flowers and flew flags at half-staff. Fittingly, the holiday was originally known as "Decoration Day." A distinguished citizen of Waterloo, General John Murray, helped to bring attention to the event nationwide because of his close friendship with General John A. Logan, the commander of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), an organization of Union veterans of the Civil War. Three years later, on May 30th in 1868, this influential veterans group complied with the request of their commander & began decorating the graves of their fallen compatriots. Consequently, this organization had charge of celebrations in the Northern States for the next several decades. Interestingly, it is believed that Gen. Logan deliberately chose May 30th to annually honor the nation’s war dead because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery where ceremonies centered around the mourning-draped veranda of the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. With a crowd of approximately 5000 in attendance, various Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. After speeches, children from the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home and members of the GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns. Afterwards, yearly "Decoration Day" festivities spread rapidly. Patriotic veterans & citizens honored military personnel who died in the Civil War with parades & special programs. The reading of Abraham Lincoln's revered "Gettysburg Address" was typically the highlight of such ceremonies.
This color coordinated collection of fashion fabrics was first featured in our Vogue Fabrics By Mail Summer 2011 catalog of swatches. Subscribe to receive home delivery of these catalogs every other month.
This color coordinated collection of fashion fabrics was first featured in our Vogue Fabrics By Mail Summer 2011 catalog of swatches. Subscribe to receive home delivery of these catalogs every other month.
