Following the end of the Civil War, Declaration Day was celebrated. It was set for a day where there had not been a major battle, so as not to distinguish one side over the other, but to bring together the North and the South, and honor all the men who had died fighting for their country. On the first Declaration Day, General James Garfield gave a speech at Arlington  National Cemetery honoring the 20,000 men that were buried there, both Northern and Southern soldiers. It was a time to draw the country back together and honor the sacrifices that both sides had made, including the ultimate sacrifice.

With the outbreak of World War I, it was decided that instead of just honoring those who died in the Civil War, it would be expanded to include those who were giving their own sacrifice in the consecutive wars that America would face. Memorial Day was firmly established in 1971, with 1968 seeing Congress pass the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, but it was not until 1971 that it became the last Monday in May as a National Holiday.

Today, we salute the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation. We honor their memory and their unselfish patriotism which, through the years have defended our Constitution and National ideals. To each family who has given a loved one for the defense of our Nation, we say Thank You! Words can never fully describe the thankfulness and gratitude that we feel, and the sadness that we carry as we mourn and celebrate those who have given their all for our country.

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After the ending of the Civil War, many began to gather to remember the lives that were lost and to decorate the graves with flowers. While not all of the graves were marked with names, and some were a mix of Union and Confederate soldiers, each grave was decorated, and the life that was lost mourned. Over time, monuments were erected to commemorate the men, and small celebrations were held across different towns in the nation. 

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day and began after the ending of the Civil War. It was changed to Memorial Day after World War I. In the years after the ending of the Civil War, small celebrations were held to remember the lives lost, place flowers upon the graves, and to remember the sacrifices made. The first ever Memorial Day was held after the ending of the Civil War by a group of freed slaves in South Carolina. 

As the United States became involved in more conflicts, such as the World Wars, the day was expanded to include the men and women who lost their lives during the wars. In 1971, it was designated as a federal holiday. At 3:30 each Memorial Day, there is a moment of silence held, but no one knows where this tradition began.

Throughout the history of the United States, thousands have given their lives. While we may not know all of their names, we remain thankful for their service and sacrifice.

“Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.”

President Theodore Roosevelt