Any help is appreciated since I have school tomorrow.

It originated after the War Between the States. I'm sure Wikipedia can provide more info.

Columbus, Mississippi is one of the places that claims to have originated it. It was a hospital town for both union and confederates, so both ended up in what came to be known as Friendship Cemetery. After the war, women of the town were going to decorate the Confederate graves. But they thought if they respected the Union dead, perhaps northern women would reciprocate at their cemeteries. So they decorated all graves.

Sorry, don't know why the icon did that.

Blandford Church, Petersburg, Virgina, June 9th 1865.
The Petersburg Ladies Memorial Association went to decorate the graves of "the old men and boys" who defended Petersburg against Ben Butlers attempt to capture Petersburg on June 9 1864.

I worked at Petersburg National Battlefield as a summer intern in College. It was and still is a very big deal there.

Side note: There are 30,000 Confederate soldiers buried at Blandford Cemetery.

Started as decorations day after the Civil War, to remember all of the fallen troops during the Civil War, started by General John Logan. In 1971, it was moved to the 3rd Monday in may and made a federal holiday that would be "officially" called Memorial Day. The name Memorial Day was used before that time, but it was official after the uniform Monday holiday act.

Columbus doesn't claim to have started until April 1866, so it appears Petersburg may have the claim. Though I suspect that independent celebrations could have begun at several points in those years.

May 1, 1865 in Charleston. Freed slaves dug up a mass grave of Union soldiers from a nearby prison camp and buried them at a local horse track. It took two weeks, when completed a memorial ceremony was held including honors paid by Union soldiers.

This is the usual recognized, unorganized observance.

Then there was this:

quote:

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General Orders No. 11, Grand Army of the Republic May 5, 1868

The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.
We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.
If other eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.
Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from hishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.

It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to lend its friendly aid in bringing to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

Department commanders will use efforts to make this order effective.
By order of

JOHN A. LOGAN,
Commander-in-Chief

N.P. CHIPMAN,
Adjutant General

Official:
WM. T. COLLINS, A.A.G.

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quote:

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it was moved to the 4th Monday in may

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FIFY

There were many places decorating the graves of soldiers with appropriate words during and just after the Civil War that influenced the eventual holiday.

Yes BQ, should have written as last Monday in May.