Memorial Day originated after the Civil War as a time to honor fallen soldiers. The first widely recognized observance was on May 30, 1868, when Union General John A. Logan called for a nationwide day of remembrance, then known as Decoration Day, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
That day, flowers were placed on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. Though similar local observances had taken place earlier—most notably by formerly enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1865—the 1868 event helped standardize the tribute.
Congress declared Memorial Day a federal holiday in 1971, designating the last Monday in May for national observance. Today, it honors all U.S. military members who died in service to the nation.
