The Noble and The Eloquent Dead By John B. Dwyer
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. Three years after the Civil War ended the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans led by Major General John A. Logan, established it as a day for decorating the graves of the war dead. In May 1868 the first major observance was held at Arlington National Cemetery. However, towns in both the North and the South such as Waterloo, NY and Columbus, GA claimed to have been first to commemorate their fallen soldiers. Who was first is of no consequence, only that they were united in their desire to honor them. On May 30, 1870 Maj. Gen. Logan gave an oration towards the end of which he said: "Let us then all unite in the solemn feelings of the hour, and tender with our flowers the warmest sympathies of our souls! Let us revive our patriotism and strengthen our loyalty by the example of the noble dead around us."
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