The Story of
Memorial Day
After the bloody war between the States, citizens of the North and the
South felt a need to honor those fallen in the war. On various days people
from different communities would place flowers at the graves of those they
wished to honor. The day came to be known as Decoration Day. By 1868, the
northern states were keeping the day on May 30.
In 1882, the day was renamed Memorial Day and extended to honor the
fallen in other wars. Since 1950, Congress has designated Memorial Day as a
day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer for permanent
peace. In 1971, President Nixon declared it a national holiday and
designated the commemoration for the last Monday in May.
Besides honoring those Americans from the armed forces, it is also a day
for personal remembrance of all loved ones. Flowers on graves, church
services, visits to the cemetery are all ways to mark the day with dignity
and solemnity. In this spirit it is only fitting to make this day one of
prayer in our Catholic faith with its long tradition of remembering the
faithful departed.
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