A Brief History of Memorial Day

The American Civil War ended on April 9^th, 1865, and approximately 13 months later, the first observance of Memorial Day occurred. It began as women visited the graves of their sons, fathers, husbands, and brothers to lay flowers on or beside their gravestones. In the 1860’s, print media was the standard for spreading information, and word had developed of such observances for the dead men of the Civil War and many towns shadowed these women's' example. The first national celebration was held in 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery where the bones of both Confederate and Union soldiers were laid. It was a day of remembrance for the fallen, no matter which side of the conflict, all American’s were honored with flowers and a flag by their respective gravestones, suggesting unity and perhaps some healing had taken place in the again, United States.