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!