Memorial Day weekend is a big deal for most Americans. It's a time to honor our brave women and men who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the military. The tradition started after the Civil War when people decorated the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and flags.
In 1868, General John A. Logan officially declared May 30th as Decoration Day—a day to pay respects to those who died fighting for our nation. That first year, over 5,000 people gathered at Arlington National Cemetery, decorating over 20,000 Union and Confederate graves. It was a decisive moment of unity after such a devastating war.
The origins of Memorial Day go back even further to 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina. Freed slaves there organized a memorial for Union soldiers who had been buried in a mass grave. They gave these men a proper burial to show their gratitude. It's one of the earliest recorded Memorial Day commemorations.
After the Civil War, more towns began holding annual tributes for their fallen soldiers. By 1873, New York made it an official state holiday called Memorial Day. As America entered more wars, the day expanded to honor all U.S. military personnel killed in service. We at the Rossen Law Firm have the utmost respect for everyone that has fought to make this country the bastion of freedom it is today.