May 30, 1918 - Memorial Day

Mary goes to church today to "honor our boys over there" because she has part of the day off from work and it is Memorial Day.  Originally known as Decoration Day, the first general observance was on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of civil war soldiers.  The tradition may have started in this country early in the Civil War in the South when soldier's graves were decorated, a tradition that spread to the North by the official declaration of Decoration Day in 1868.  Decoration Day gradually became known as Memorial Day and was celebrated on May 30 until the Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect in 1971, moving Memorial Day to the last Monday in May.