Memorial Day, originally called “Decoration Day”, was once a time for remembering those who had give their lives in battle. The first “Memorial Day” was held on May 5, 1868 and was proclaimed by General John Logan. Graves were decorated at Arlington National Cemetery of both Union and Confederate Soldiers. The South resisted an “official” national memorial day, refusing to honor Southern War Between the States Veterans on the same day as their “Yankee” counterparts.
After World War I, Memorial Day became a time to honor all who had fallen in the line of duty. The official day for Memorial Day was May 30. In most Southern states a separate “Confederate Memorial Day” is still observed in April.
Some have criticized the moving of Memorial Day to the last Monday in May which was done by an act of Congress in 1971. The VFW said in 2002, “Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public’s nonchalant observance of Memorial Day."
Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) , who is also a veteran, is the most outspoken critic of Memorial Day being the last Monday in May. Senator Inouye has introduced legislation to move the day back to May 30, but to date the legislation has not made it to the floor of the U.S. Senate or House.
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