Many Americans look at Memorial Day as a day that provides them with a three-day weekend, a day to have a barbeque with potato salad, or a day that represents the beginning of the summer. While all these are great reasons to celebrate, they aren’t the true purpose of Memorial Day.
While there is some debate as to where Memorial Day began, in 1966, Congress and President Johnson declared Waterloo, NY the “birthplace” of Memorial Day because of a ceremony on May 5, 1866 in which veterans who had fought in the civil war were honored. In 1868, an organization of Union veterans declared May 30th to be Decoration Day. They chose May 30th because flowers would be in bloom all over the country and they wanted to ensure flowers were strewn on both Union and Confederate graves.
It wasn’t until after World War I, that the day was expanded to honor those who have dies in all American Wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by congress and was to be placed on the last Monday in May.
As American citizens, it is our job to celebrate and honor those who have fallen, fought, or are still fighting for our freedom and the freedom of others. If you know someone who has served our country or has lost someone for the freedom of others, show them you care this Memorial Day. Send a Thank You or Patriotic balloon bouquet from Balloon By Mail.
While there is some debate as to where Memorial Day began, in 1966, Congress and President Johnson declared Waterloo, NY the “birthplace” of Memorial Day because of a ceremony on May 5, 1866 in which veterans who had fought in the civil war were honored. In 1868, an organization of Union veterans declared May 30th to be Decoration Day. They chose May 30th because flowers would be in bloom all over the country and they wanted to ensure flowers were strewn on both Union and Confederate graves.
It wasn’t until after World War I, that the day was expanded to honor those who have dies in all American Wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by congress and was to be placed on the last Monday in May.
As American citizens, it is our job to celebrate and honor those who have fallen, fought, or are still fighting for our freedom and the freedom of others. If you know someone who has served our country or has lost someone for the freedom of others, show them you care this Memorial Day. Send a Thank You or Patriotic balloon bouquet from Balloon By Mail.
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