Memorial Day  was originally called Decoration Day. It is a day of  remembrance for those who have died in the service of our nation.  Specifically, It was first widely  observed on May 30, 1868 by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the  Republic to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War  soldiers.

During the first celebration of Decoration Day, then-General, James  Garfield made a speech at Arlington National  Cemetery, after  which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000  Union and Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery which  inspired  local observances in several towns throughout  America.

After World War I (1914 - 1918), all Observance Services included honoring every sacrifice made  in America's wars.

These special events of Observance and Decoration have  continued -> World War II (1939 - 1945), Korean War (1950 - 1953), Vietnam War (1954 - 1975), Persian Gulf War (August 1990 - April 1991), Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan (Oct. 7,  2001 -) & Iraq War March 19, 2003 - ). Through these  trying episodes in our nation's history, America has honored its courageous and dedicated  Military Personnel.

In 1966, the federal government,  under the direction of President Lyndon Johnson, declared  Waterloo, N.Y., the official birthplace of Memorial  Day. They chose Waterloo—which had first celebrated the day  on May 5, 1866—because the town had made Memorial  Day an annual, community-wide event during which businesses closed and  residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and  flags.

In 1971, the US Congress declared Memorial Day to be a national holiday, to be celebrated on  the last Monday of May each year. Honoring the spirit of fallen US heroes is the  purpose of Memorial Day.

Many people observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and war memorials, and  leaving flags, flowers, or notes on the graves of soldiers.