Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have died in our nation's service. In the spring of 1866, Henry C. Welles, a druggist in the village of Waterloo, NY, suggested that decorating their graves should honor the patriots who had died in the Civil War. Townspeople made wreaths, crosses and bouquets for each veteran's grave. They decorated the village with flags at half-mast. On May 5 of that year, veterans led a processional to the town's cemeteries.

Decoration Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan and was first observed officially on May 30, 1868. In 1882, the name was changed to Memorial Day, and soldiers who had died in other wars were also honored.

In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday to be held on the last Monday in May. Memorial Day Weekend is a three-day holiday that is typified by the first family picnics and barbecues of the year. The Indianapolis 500 Mile Race takes place on the Sunday before Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is still a time to remember those who have died, whether in war or otherwise. In his book, Accompany Them with Singing: The Christian Funeral, Tom Long writes, “We [followers of Christ] know that death changes, but does not destroy, our relationship to the dead. We stand on a great continuum of worship with the saints who have gone before us. We pray, and so do they. We praise God, and so do they. Only the prayers and praises on our side are . . . all set to the music of ‘Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!’ (Revelation 22:20) . . . . The saints, however, stand day and night in the presence of God and the Lamb. . . . The victory has been won, not just their victory but God’s victory over all that destroys creation. For them . . . ‘the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah’ (Rev. 11:15). Our earthly intercessions blend into their acclamations of pure praise and joy.”