Little Bits On Memorial Day

Well, apparently there is another holiday coming up at the end of May, and it happens to be one of my favorites.  Barbecues, beach and park trips, golf, Indy 500, baseball, and a Monday off are pretty nice, but the best part about Memorial Day is celebrating and honoring the US soldiers that gave their lives for this country while serving in the military.  I did some research into the holiday and found some pretty interesting facts that I thought I would share with all you Bandits!

Memorial Day actually started out as being called Decoration Day, and originally began as a way to honor the soldiers that died during the American Civil War.  By the mid-1860s citizens were decorating soldiers’ graves in both the North and South, prompting this even to be called “Decoration Day.”  The first known observance of this holiday took place in Waterloo, New York on May 5, 1866.  Two men, General John Murray and General John A. Logan, helped bring the attention of this event nationwide, including General Logan (who was the commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic – the organization for Northern Civil War veterans) issuing a proclamation that Decoration Day should be observed nationwide on May 5, 1868.  On May 30, 1868, Decoration Day was officially observed for the first time, and by 1890 every northern state had adopted Decoration Day as an official state holiday.  The date, May 30, was chosen because it was not the anniversary of any battle from the Civil War.

The holiday gradually changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day, which was first used in 1882, though it did not become more commonly used until after World War II.  Memorial Day became the official name by Federal law in 1967, and with the passing of the Uniform Holidays Bill in 1968, the date of observance became the last Monday in the May.  The nation’s oldest continuously running Memorial Day parade is in Ironton, Ohio, where it has been a tradition since 1869.

What a great holiday!  So pull out the barbeque, raise Old Glory and let her fly proudly, and salute and pay tribute to the brave men and women that have served our country!  If you are looking add a little more flair to your Memorial Day festivities, or want to give someone a special gift, check out these great items on sale just for Memorial Day! www.StealStreet.com/MemorialDay