The origin of Memorial Day Service

The origin of Memorial Day Service

By Richard Harris In 1868, US Army General John A. Logan declared May 30 would be Decoration Day, a solemn day of mourning honoring the soldiers who died during the Civil War. That first year, 5,000 citizens arrived at Arlington National Cemetery and placed fresh flowers on 20,000 graves. In time, it became known as Memorial Day, still honoring all those who died in several additional wars. In 1971, the US Congress enacted a law that moved sever…