From the desk of Jan Hommel, American Freedom Museum Director:

Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for those who gave their lives in service of the United States of America, is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally, the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and about 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.

General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers, was the first to proclaim and designate “Decoration Day” for May 30, 1868. “Decoration Day” was created to recognize and honor the sacrifices of Civil War Soldiers who had died in battle. The early traditions included decorating graves of soldiers who died in defense of their country with flowers, wreaths and flags. The first large observance was held that year at the Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. The ceremonies centered around the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Many Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. During that first ceremony, General James Garfield, former Union General and sitting Ohio Congressman, addressed the audience and over 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.

“We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.”
                                                                         – James A. Garfield, May 30, 1868 Arlington National Cemetery

In 1873, the state of New York officially recognized “Decoration Day” as a legal holiday. By the late 1800’s it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South honored their dead on separate days until after World War I. After World War I, the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War, to honoring those who died fighting in all of America’s wars. It then became Memorial Day, a national holiday throughout most of the United States. Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966. Memorial Day is now observed in almost every state on the last Monday in May with the Congressional passage of the National Holiday Act of 1971.

Between the American Revolution in 1775 and today, over 1,289,593 military men and women paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives as they served in the United States military. Join us this weekend at the American Freedom Museum as we remember the men and women who have died while serving our country and fighting for our freedoms.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND HOURS:
Saturday, May 28th – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Monday, May 30^th – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.