WINSTON WEEKLY[1]

Vol. 2, No. 21

May 26, 2024

DECORATION DAY TO MEMORIAL DAY

Following the massive casualties during the Civil War,[2] America established the first national cemeteries. Many honored fallen soldiers by “decorating” their graves with flowers, leading to May 30 being recognized as “Decoration Day.” After World War II, May 30 was more commonly called “Memorial Day.” In 1976, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller signed a proclamation designating Waterloo, New York as “The Birthplace of Memorial Day.”

Memorial Day was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 1971, and the day was changed from May 30 to the last Monday in May to create a three-day weekend.  The official recognition came after the 1968 passage of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. In 2000, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act to encourage all Americans to pause at 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day to honor and remember American military personnel who died in service.  

The poppy is often worn on Memorial Day as a show of respect to those who sacrificed their lives in service to America. Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote the 1915 poem, “In Flanders Fields” after seeing the brilliant poppies blooming in the fields around Flanders, Belgium that had been decimated in the “Great War.” In response to John McCrae’s poem, University of Georgia Professor Moina Michal wrote a poem, “We Shall Keep the Faith”, and began making fabric poppies to raise money in support of veterans. The American Legion eventually adopted the poppy as their symbol of remembrance.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Consider how you can remember those who died in service, perhaps by volunteering at a national cemetery or in public information services dedicated to those who served. Learn more at www.cem.va.gov. or www.volunteerva.gov.

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[1] Copyright May 26, 2024. Please feel free to share with the appropriate attribute. Winston Weekly is a weekly Sunday newsletter by Alysen Bayles, Founder of Bayles and Bruce. “Learn, live, love, read.” Alysen’s views are her own.

[2] Resources: Memorial Day articles at www.theAmericanpioneerwoman.com by Annemarie Matilla (May 10, 2024); www.weareteachers.com by Jeanne Croteau (May 10, 2023); and www.history.com

(October 27, 2009; updated May 15, 2024) by history.com Editors.