On Behalf of a Grateful Nation

The first widely recognized observance of Memorial Day in the United States was on May 30, 1868. This day was originally called Decoration Day and was designated as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the Civil War dead with flowers. It was first proclaimed by General John A. Logan, the leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans. The ceremony took place at Arlington National Cemetery, which set the precedent for many future Memorial Day observances across the country. Over time, the day evolved to honor all American military personnel who died in all wars, not just the Civil War, and it came to be known as Memorial Day.