b'Memorial DayMonday, May 27 Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) place U.S. flags at headstones as part of Flags-In at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. Within four hours, over 1,000 soldiers place 245,000 flags in front of every headstone and Columbarium and niche wall column. (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery)The Grand Army of the Republic One of the first occurred in Columbus, Miss., April 25, 1866, when a group of women visited a cemetery to decorate the Established Decoration Daygraves of Confederate soldiers who had fallen in battle at Memorial Day History Shiloh. Nearby were the graves of Union soldiers, neglected Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868,because they were the enemy. Disturbed at the sight of the the head of an organization of Union veteransthe Grandbare graves, the women placed some of their flowers on those graves, as well.Army of the Republic (GAR)established Decoration DayToday, cities in the North and the South claim to be theas a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the warbirthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. Both Macon and dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared thatColumbus, Ga., claim the title, as well as Richmond, Va. Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believedThe village of Boalsburg, Pa., claims it began there twothat date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom years earlier. A stone in a Carbondale, Ill., cemetery carries all over the country. the statement that the first Decoration Day ceremony took The first large observance was held that year at Arlingtonplace there on April 29, 1866. Carbondale was the wartime National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from home of Gen. Logan.Washington, D.C. The ceremonies centered around theApproximately 25 places have been named in connection mourning-draped veranda of the Arlington mansion, oncewith the origin of Memorial Day, many of them in the South the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Various Washington officials,where most of the war dead were buried.including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over Official Birthplace Declaredthe ceremonies.Official Birthplace Declared In 1966, Congress and After speeches, children from the Soldiers and SailorsPresident Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the Orphan Home and members of the GAR made their waybirthplace of Memorial Day. A ceremony on May 5, 1866, through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union andhonored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff. Local observances claim the event was the first springtimeSupporters of Waterloos claim say earlier observances in tributes to the Civil War dead. Even though other other places were either informal, not community-wide or observances already had been held in various places.one-time events.14 Military Appreciation Resource Magazine Thank You For Your Service'