From Freed Slaves to Flanders Fields: The Untold Story of Memorial Day
For many Americans, Memorial Day has become the unofficial start of summer - a three-day weekend packed with backyard barbecues, pool parties and fun in the sun. But amidst the festivities, the true meaning of the day often gets lost.
Some of us even confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day, and think it's about thanking all vets for their service. While well-intentioned, they're missing the mark. Memorial Day is about honoring and remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation - the brave men and women who never made it home.
To fully grasp the significance of Memorial Day, let's take a walk through history. Here are five things you may not know about this solemn day.
5 Things You Didn't Know About Memorial Day
The very first Memorial Day ceremony was held by freed slaves after the Civil War.
When Confederate troops evacuated Charleston, South Carolina, newly emancipated slaves dug up a mass grave of fallen Union prisoners. They gave them a proper burial in a new cemetery, complete with a whitewashed fence and a powerful inscription: "Martyrs of the Race Course."
On 1 May 1865, a crowd of 10,000 strong, mostly freed slaves and missionaries, gathered for a parade. 3,000 Black school children marched with bouquets of flowers, their voices ringing out with "John Brown's Body." Members of the 54th Massachusetts and other Black Union regiments performed double-time marches. Black ministers recited verses from the Bible. The first Memorial Day was all about paying homage to the men who died fighting to abolish slavery.
Fast forward to 30 May 1868, and we've got the first official "Decoration Day" (the precursor to Memorial Day) at the newly established Arlington National Cemetery.
Ohio Rep. James Garfield, a former general and future president, addressed the crowd of 5,000. His words still resonate:
"Hither our children's children shall come to pay their tribute of grateful homage. For this are we met today. By the happy suggestion of a great society, assemblies like this are gathering at this hour in every state in the Union."
After the speech, the crowd solemnly entered the cemetery to pay respects to the Civil War fallen.
It took a full century for Memorial Day to become an official national holiday.
Congress made it official in 1968 with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
Over those 100 years, the scope expanded to honor all fallen U.S. service members, not just those from the Civil War. The staggering losses of World War II made remembering the fallen more crucial than ever.
Today, a National Moment of Remembrance is held at 1500 local time every Memorial Day.
Congress passed this in 2000, dedicating one minute to pause, reflect and honor all who died in service to our country.
The iconic red poppy became a symbol of remembrance after World War I, inspired by Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae's haunting poem "In Flanders Fields."
The poppy testifies to the resilience of life amid the devastation of war. Today, it's a powerful international symbol to commemorate the fallen.
So before you fire up the grill or cannonball into the pool this Memorial Day, take a moment to remember the real reason behind the holiday. Join Team RWB in honoring the heroes who gave their all by taking on our Memorial Miles Monthly Mission. It's time to catch that Eagle Fire and pay tribute to the fallen. They deserve it.
