Although Memorial Day is officially the start of the summer season here in the U.S. it's about more than barbeques and department store sales. Whatever you're doing today, take time to remember those who served and the sacrifices they made for all of us.
The holiday got its official start on May 30, 1868, when Union General John A. Logan declared the day an occasion to decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers. But, it's seldom noted that three years earlier, on May 1, 1865, former slaves gathered in Charleston, SC to honor 257 dead Union Soldiers, who had been buried in a mass grave in a Confederate prison camp. They dug up the bodies and worked for two weeks to give them a proper burial as gratitude for fighting for their freedom. They then held a parade of 10,000 people led by 2,800 Black children where they marched, sang and celebrated. Gathering in the graveyard, the crowd watched five black preachers recite scripture and a children's choir sing spirituals and "The Star-Spangled Banner."
While the story is largely forgotten today, some historians consider the gathering the first Memorial Day. There is also evidence that women's groups in both the North and South gathered informally to decorate the graves of the war dead even before that.
The holiday got its official start on May 30, 1868, when Union General John A. Logan declared the day an occasion to decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers. But, it's seldom noted that three years earlier, on May 1, 1865, former slaves gathered in Charleston, SC to honor 257 dead Union Soldiers, who had been buried in a mass grave in a Confederate prison camp. They dug up the bodies and worked for two weeks to give them a proper burial as gratitude for fighting for their freedom. They then held a parade of 10,000 people led by 2,800 Black children where they marched, sang and celebrated. Gathering in the graveyard, the crowd watched five black preachers recite scripture and a children's choir sing spirituals and "The Star-Spangled Banner."
While the story is largely forgotten today, some historians consider the gathering the first Memorial Day. There is also evidence that women's groups in both the North and South gathered informally to decorate the graves of the war dead even before that.
Sometime today, before our company comes over for our annual Memorial Day barbeque to kick off the summer, I'm going to pull some fabrics and make a red, white and blue block and include it in my Dear Jane quilt. And say a prayer of gratitude.