Memorial Day: The Forgotten History of America’s Memorial Day and What It Commemorates (Video)

Memorial Day is more than just the “unofficial start of summer.” It was originally a celebration of the lives sacrificed on both sides during the War Between the States. Not an official federal holiday until 1971, the history of Memorial Day is one of controversy. This guide traces the origins of this American day dedicated to remembering and honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Early Celebrations: Annual Decoration Days
While the day was eventually codified as a Civil War-centric holiday, people had laid flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers for decades before there was such a thing as Memorial Day, or “Decoration Day” as it is sometimes called. Annual decoration days were most common in the American South. Because the American South was more rural and agrarian based, it was not uncommon to have a family cemetery. It was here that families would gather for picnics and grave decorations.

The early celebrations were not about remembering the fallen from the war. They were effectively extended family reunions, a sort of folk ancestor worship specifically developed out of the folkways of the American South. A religious service typically accompanied the meal.

A Richmond Times-Dispatch article from 1906 documents a June 3, 1861, Warrenton, Virginia, celebration as the first time a Civil War veteran’s grave was decorated. In 1862, there is another recorded example of an early Civil War grave decoration which occurred in Savannah, Georgia. In 1863, there was a decoration of soldiers’ graves in Gettysburg.

Decoration of graves became widespread after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865. There were, at this point, over 600,000 American soldiers in the ground. This gave what was a previously existing informal ritual a new significance. It was this year that the federal government began making a national cemetery for the Union war dead. Despite this, the celebrations were primarily a Southern thing.


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https://sonsoflibertymedia.com/memorial-day-the-forgotten-history-of-americas-memorial-day-and-what-it-commemorates-video/

I've a vague memory of being told this at one time:

In 1950, Congress passed a resolution calling on the nation to observe Memorial Day as a day of prayer for perpetual peace.

That sets my heart somewhat at ease, where my in-laws are concerned. I was brought up with "Decoration Day;" a day in which we showed reverence to all - no matter which side of the fence - gave the ultimate sacrifice for the cause in which they fought.

I suppose that, so long as those who've given the ultimate sacrifice are show reverence, then that should be good enough for me.

For those that gave their tomorrow's

Seal Team 10
Danny Dietz ~ Mike Murphy ~ Matt Axelson

yeah. i had a problem with US leaving iraq and not slaughtering our enemies before we left. and i still do to this day. the same goes for nam. we have no business leaving once we commit if any of the dinks are still alive.

jirqoadai wrote:yeah. i had a problem with US leaving iraq and not slaughtering our enemies before we left. and i still do to this day. the same goes for nam. we have no business leaving once we commit if any of the dinks are still alive.

It would be like trying to kill all those fucken rodents in Australia , The little fuckers just keep crawlin outta holes in the ground

vege57 wrote:

jirqoadai wrote:yeah. i had a problem with US leaving iraq and not slaughtering our enemies before we left. and i still do to this day. the same goes for nam. we have no business leaving once we commit if any of the dinks are still alive.

It would be like trying to kill all those fucken rodents in Australia , The little fuckers just keep crawlin outta holes in the ground

thats why God created phosphorus

jirqoadai wrote:

vege57 wrote:

jirqoadai wrote:yeah. i had a problem with US leaving iraq and not slaughtering our enemies before we left. and i still do to this day. the same goes for nam. we have no business leaving once we commit if any of the dinks are still alive.

It would be like trying to kill all those fucken rodents in Australia , The little fuckers just keep crawlin outta holes in the ground

thats why God created phosphorus

Good to see God has finally done something useful lol


Drop a MOAB on em, and suck all that oxy outta the tunnels

Memorial Day 2023

This is the president....flashback.

https://rumble.com/v2qnm8p-flashback-president-trump-visits-arlington-cemetary-on-memorial-day-comfort.html

where's sniffy Joe today?

https://rumble.com/v2qnolk-moving-flashback-shows-delivery-driver-giving-respect-to-american-flag.html

video at link. flashback.