Decoration Day may not mean much to people, but that was the name once used to remember the lives lost during times of war. Now called Memorial Day, traditions of mourning the deaths of fallen soldiers have remained constant.
Waterloo, N.Y., is the birthplace of Memorial Day. More than two dozen cities claim to have been the birthplace of Memorial Day, but President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo its home in May 1966.
Memorial Day was first observed on May 30,1868, at the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
It was not recognized as a holiday until 1873 by New York. The Northern states joined New York in 1890.
Memorial Day was created to remember those who died in the Civil War. After World War I, the day was changed to honor every man or woman who died in any war.
It was then that the South recognized Memorial Day.
Today it is celebrated in every state on the last Monday of May.
However, several southern states celebrate their own holidays remembering their Confederate soldiers as well. Six southern states have holidays such as these.
Moina Michael started the idea of wearing red poppies to honor those who have died.
Michael began selling red poppies to people to raise money for servicemen in need. The tradition carried to France and Belgium where money was raised to benefit war orphans.
Arlington National Cemetery holds more than 260,000 gravestones, each of which is decorated with a small American flag. This tradition started in the late 1950s on the Thursday before Memorial Day by the 1,200 soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry. The soldiers then spend the weekend patrolling the cemetery to ensure that each flag remains standing.
Arlington Cemetery also holds the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Unknown Soldier represents all those who died in World War I, World War II and Korea.
It wasn't until 1971 that Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by Congress.
In Virginia, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts decorate the tombs of 15,300 fallen soldiers with luminaries. Beginning in 1998, the Saturday before Memorial Day, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's Heights is full of life and light as people gather to view the thousands of luminaries.
In 2000, President Bill Clinton asked Americans to remember and reflect on the sacrifices made by all those who have participated in war.
The "National Moment of Remembrance," Clinton said, is at 3 p.m. (local time) on Memorial Day. People are asked to stop what they are doing for one minute and listen to "Taps" or have a moment of silence.
The first celebration of Memorial Day attracted 5,000 viewers to Arlington National Cemetery. Today approximately the same amount of viewers come to pay their respects to those who fought for the U.S.
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