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Decoration Day

On May 1, 1865, Charleston, South Carolina, 
Freed African Americans held a parade of 10,000 
In honor of 257 dead Union soldiers, 
whose remains they had reburied from a mass grave
in a Confederate prison camp
Although Blight (historian) claimed
"African Americans invented Memorial Day
in Charleston, South Carolina", 
In 2012, he stated in the New York Times
He "has no evidence" that the event in Charleston
effectively led to General Logan’s call for the national holiday 

In 1968, the U.S. government passed 
the Uniform Monday Holiday Act,
1971 May 30 was a day touted
It all went into effect in 1971, 
by then, there were no more Civil War veterans – 
but millions of vets from later wars.
It took an act of congress to
grant federal employee's three-day weekends
The act also codified the name "Memorial Day" into law.


Note: In tribute to “The Ladies' Memorial Association” 
                                   And the African American’s who fought for the grand army of the Republic 
Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com


POEM

United States of America we celebrate
“Decoration Day” it began in 1868,
This day is considered a very sad day
On the last Monday of May
Americans bring flowers and give thanks
To the dead soldiers of all ranks
Virginia, first Civil War soldier's grave
Southern women decorated, recorders would save
Were the first to invent Memorial Day    

Written 5/29/22
Happy Memorial Day!

Copyright © I Am Anaya | Year Posted 2022

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Robert Gorelick Date: 6/2/2022 9:03:00 PM Great write, Anaya very informative! Keep up the good work! Robert Login to Reply

Victor Buhagiar Date: 5/29/2022 11:00:00 PM Good to remember history. Login to Reply I Am Anaya Date: 5/30/2022 9:55:00 AM I just learned of the Northern A.A.'S may well have initiated the first Memorial Day! Thank you kindly for your visit.

L Milton Hankins Date: 5/29/2022 6:12:00 PM Thank you, Anaya. We always called it Decoration Day up in the hills of West Virginia when I was growing up. I still find myself referring to it like that, and I'm glad you called this to our attention. Login to Reply I Am Anaya Date: 5/30/2022 10:01:00 AM Just like Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day, as Americans finally realized that there would never be a war to end all wars. Have a wonderful Decoration Day!