Honoring war dead began in 1863

By Col. John RileyMay 22, 2014

Honoring war dead began in 1863
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Regulations for The Army of The United States, 1913, in paragraph 440 stated that on Memorial Day . . .

-- at all Army posts and stations, the national flag will be displayed at half-staff from sunrise to midday

-- immediately before noon the band, or field music, will play some appropriate air, and the national salute of 21 guns will be fired

-- (then) the flag will be hoisted to the top of the staff

-- this way fitting testimonial of respect for the heroic dead and honor to their patriotic devotion will be appropriately rendered.

Across the United States, Families will celebrate the beginning of summer by attending Family gatherings, and cook outs. They will hit the beaches, lakes and amusement parks in large numbers. And hopefully, some will take time on Monday to reflect on the meaning of the holiday they are enjoying.

The Memorial Day tradition of honoring fallen heroes has its origins in the war that divided the nation.

As early as 1863, Families across the North and South started decorating the graves of their war dead in the spring as flowers began to bloom. As the Civil War drew to a close, many towns and cities established specific dates on which they would recognize "Decoration" day.

In 1868, the National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, the largest Union veteran's organization in the country, directed that the graves of both Union and Confederate dead in Arlington Cemetery would be decorated on May 30.

Although many states continued to observe different dates to honor their fallen, the Armed Forces of the United States followed the tradition established by the GAR and honored their heroes on May 30 each year.

The tradition continued across the country and at overseas posts into the early 20th Century.

Following World War I, the nation was more closely united in the sacrifices and loss of that global conflict and the tradition of Memorial Day was expanded across the country as a day to honor the fallen from all U.S. wars.

While many separate celebrations and memorials continued across the country on various dates, most areas started marking their celebrations at the end of May.

Congress finally set the national holiday observance for the last Monday in May with the passage of the National Holiday Act in 1971.

Today in recognition of the Memorial Day holiday, members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, "The Old Guard", will place flags in front of nearly 300,000 headstones at Arlington National Cemetery; service members and Scouts in Hawaii will place flags and flower leis on more than 34,000 graves at the "Punchbowl," the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific; volunteers will place flags upon the graves of nearly 10,000 souls at The American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer in Normandy and across the country Family members will celebrate their fallen heroes in similar observances throughout the weekend.

The pinnacle of these events will occur Monday as the President of the United States places a ceremonial wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, 150 years after the establishment of the cemetery as the final resting place for our fallen service members.

As you celebrate the much-anticipated arrival of summer with your Family and friends, take a moment to reflect and maybe share the meaning of the holiday with those around you.

Those we honor would likely be thrilled at the spectacle of ball games and barbecues, but we also owe them a moment of reflection on the day set aside for their remembrance.

(Editor's note: Riley is the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations and Plans.)

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood