The First Decoration Day

150 years ago today was the first Decoration Day, as proclaimed by John A. Logan and the Grand Army of the Republic. Other communities had started ceremonies of remembrance, but this became the major link in the chain that created what today in the U.S. is Memorial Day.

The text of Logan’s order is here.

(Photo: An exhibit at the John Logan museum in Murphysboro, Illinois–Logan’s hometown–tells the story of Logan’s involvement with Memorial Day.) (cm)