On this day in history, May 30, 1868, first Decoration Day is held in remembrance of those lost in war
Fox News
The first Decoration Day was held on this day in history, May 30, 1868, as a precursor to Memorial Day, a day of remembrance to honor all those who died in war in service to our nation.
"This was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers," according to PBS. The events of the first Decoration Day were filled with patriotism and solemn tributes. As time passed, "Memorial Day" began to supplant "Decoration Day" as the name of the day. In 1968, the U.S. government passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. Some people wear a red poppy in remembrance of those fallen in war — a tradition that began with a World War I poem. Erica Lamberg is a contributing reporter for Fox News Digital.
During that first national commemoration, former Union Gen. and sitting Ohio Congressman James Garfield gave a speech at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, after about 5,000 participants decorated the graves of over 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there, recounts the same source
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