MEMORIAL DAY FACTS

Memorial day was first celebrated on May 30, 1868. It was
observed by placing flowers on the graves of Union and
Confederate soldiers during the first national celebration.
Gen. James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National
Cemetery, after which around 5,000 participants helped to
decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and
Confederate soldiers who were buried there.


                     

Since the late 1950’s on the Thursday just before Memorial
day, around 1200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place
small American flags at each of the more than 260,000
gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery.



Moina Michael came up with an idea of wearing red poppies
on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the
nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold
poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going
to benefit servicemen in need.

                         

In the year 2000 the National Moment of Remembrance
Resolution passed. At 3pm on Memorial Day all Americans
are asked to voluntarily and informally observe in their
own way a moment of remembrance and respect by pausing
from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or
listening to Taps.

                        

The south refused to honor the dead on Memorial Day until
after World War I when the meaning of Memorial Day changed
from honoring civil war dead to honoring Americans who died
fighting in any war.