A Memorial Day Message
Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. It was first proclaimed in 1868 by General John Logan, whose General Order No. 11 stated “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.” The date was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any battle.
Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. It was first proclaimed in 1868 by General John Logan, whose General Order No. 11 stated “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.” The date was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any battle.
In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael wrote her own poem:
"We cherish, too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.”
She then conceived of the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day, in honor of those who died serving the nation. 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. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922, the VFW became the first veterans’ organization to sell poppies nationally.
In December 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed, asking that at 3 p.m. local time, all Americans pause from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence, or to listen to “Taps.”
(Here’s a beautiful version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WChTqYlDjtI)