From what I’ve learned, it’s apparent that the need for
honoring our vets came from the women. Those who survived. It also began during
and after the American Civil War. Both sides had a need to honor their dead.
The women would mourn over the death of their husbands and lovers, sons and
brothers, fathers and daughters. They’d decorate the graves. This is why it was
first called: Decoration Day. Leave it to the women to start something to honor
their heroes who’d stolen their hearts.
A hymn published
in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet
carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the
Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic
American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially
declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May
1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day.
The spontaneous
gatherings of the women morphed into Memorial Day, and it was used as a means
to unite the country, and was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General
John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. It was first
observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and
Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to
officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was
recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the
day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the
holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to
honoring Americans who died fighting in any war).
It is now
celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with
the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend
for Federal holidays).
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies. |
She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war.
Ms. Michael was
the first to wear one, selling poppies to her friends and co-workers with the
money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was
visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael
and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for
war orphaned children and widowed women.
This tradition
spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold
poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League
disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly
before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to
nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy"
Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In
1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the
National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp
with her likeness on it.