Memorial Day is serious business—a time to pause and give thanks for those who have died for what they believe in, especially those here in the United States who fought for the freedoms we enjoy.
But I thought you’d appreciate some interesting tidbits about Memorial Day traditions that took me by surprise.
- Honoring the war dead goes back centuries—at least to ancient Greece and Rome. In 431 B.C., Athenian general and statesman Pericles delivered a funeral oration praising those who had given their lives in the Peloponnesian War. It was reportedly part of an annual public funeral for the war dead and was later included in Thucydides’ history of the conflict.
- One of the earliest U.S. commemorations of war dead was organized by recently freed slaves. On May 1, 1865, hundreds of freed slaves, along with regiments of the U.S. Colored Troops and a few white Charlestonians, gathered at a former Confederate prisoner-of-war camp—once a racetrack near Charleston’s Citadel. Their purpose was to consecrate a proper burial site for Union soldiers who had died there from disease or exposure and been buried in a mass grave. The event was dedicated to the “Martyrs of the Race Course.”
- Memorial Day didn’t become a U.S. federal holiday until 1971. Its roots go back to May 1868, when the holiday was known as “Decoration Day.” General John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Union veterans’ group known as the Grand Army of the Republic, decreed that May 30 should become a day of commemoration for the more than 620,000 soldiers killed in the Civil War.
- Several towns claim to be the holiday’s birthplace. President Lyndon Johnson designated Waterloo, New York, as the “official birthplace of Memorial Day” in 1966 when he signed the holiday legislation. But other communities also lay claim to the title, including Boalsburg, PA; Carbondale, IL; Columbus, MS; and Columbus, GA.
- The holiday took years to become official. Even after President Johnson’s 1966 legislation, it was several more years before Congress passed the measure and Memorial Day was recognized as a federal holiday nationwide.
- Other Memorial Day traditions include the National Moment of Remembrance, when Americans pause at 3 p.m. local time, and the running of the Indianapolis 500.
My Personal Heroes
Dad—also known in our family as Grandy, Uncle Jim, or Jim Herbert—served as an Army Air Corps fighter pilot during World War II. He flew 14 combat missions in P-38s and 43 missions in P-51s over Europe and deep into Russia, earning the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He served his country bravely, and I know how proud he was to be an American. One of the earliest lessons I learned from him was this:
America is worth fighting for.
America is worth fighting for.
All of my uncles and six of my husband’s uncles served in World War II. I hold them in my heart today with gratitude:
- Beverley Herbert, Jr.
- George Hart
- Edmund Taylor
- Bruce Thomson
- Wesley Cottrell
- Wade Cottrell
- William Cottrell
- Willard Cottrell
- Harold Cottrell
- Fred Arto
I also want to recognize all my Cottonbaler friends of the 7th Infantry Regiment Association who fought in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Cottonbalers have served in campaigns going back to the War of 1812 and continuing through active duty in today’s conflicts. For many years, I was the producer of their quarterly Cottonbaler newsletter, and I’m proud to have been named an honorary member of their association. They are a fine group of Americans.
And of course, there are so many more. Whoever you are, wherever you are—I thank you.
Perhaps there’s someone in your own family or among your friends who has served his or her country. A gesture of gratitude from you—a note, an email, a phone call—might mean more than you can possibly imagine.
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I remember this post! A lovely tribute, E. Thanks for the reminder what sort of great dads there are, and were, in the world.
Great post Elizabeth. Love the pic of your Dad and his plane!
Thanks, Tim — I really liked the photo of your uncle too — what a handsome man — taken from this earth way too soon.
Thank you for sharing this important (and rarely learned) history of the beginnings of Memorial Day. I’m sharing this with many of my friends. My dad was a paratrooper in WWII and his service affected him his entire life. Memorial Day was always a sacred day to him.
Thank you so much, Pamela. And what heroes the paratroopers were — that was such dangerous work. I’m sure he did feel that Memorial Day was sacred, because I’m sure many of his friends didn’t make it home.
I think, for the first time, I attended and participated in a Memorial Day event in a local town instead of going to a cook-out. It felt good.
Good for you, Karen — those small town gatherings can be so moving, partly because of the shared emotion and shared pride and shared gratitude. We had a quiet Memorial Day this year, but as you can tell from this piece, my mind and heart were on those who served. Thanks so much for commenting.
Very nice and appropriate on this special day. We have much to thank these brace veterans for.
Thank you so much, John! I am grateful to you for your own service as a physician in the service. You must be proud of all your uncles who served.