476 



MEMORIAL DAY. 



first time the same date was adopted, and the 

 daily papers of that year contain the earliest 

 general indications of a popular movement. 

 The Grand Army of the Republic, then in the 

 early days of its organization, naturally took 

 the lead in establishing precedents for the 

 suitable observance of the anniversary that 

 has now become so general. 



When it is remembered that probably not a 

 single family fairly naturalized in the United 

 States was wholly exempt from the casualties 

 of war, it may be readily understood how 

 strongly the day and its associations appealed 

 to the popular heart. At first its observance 

 was especially cultivated in rural neighbor- 

 hoods and in the smaller towns, and for a time 

 it was doubtful if the larger cities would ever 

 adopt the custom. In the course of time, how- 

 ever, with the perfected organization of the 

 Grand Army, it assumed such prominence that 

 business was practically suspended, and the 

 great centers of population recognized the ap- 

 propriateness of the simple ceremonies. 



To the rising generation, of course, the day 

 now carries comparatively small significance. 

 It is welcomed as a holiday and devoted largely 

 to sports and merry-making, and, however in- 

 appropriate this may seem to the older gen- 

 eration to whom the realities of war are still 

 a terrible memory, it is inevitable, and must 

 probably increase as time passes. The veterans 

 who march in the ranks to decorate the graves 

 of their former comrades must diminish from 

 year to year, and the interest of the occasion 

 must diminish in a like ratio, but for a genera- 

 tion to come the number of survivors will be 

 strong enough to lend a dignity to the proceed- 

 ings, and the future of Memorial Day must be 

 governed by circumstances that at present no 

 one can foresee. 



The official history of the day is found, for 

 the most part, in the proceedings of the Grand 

 Army of the Republic. It was formally estab- 

 lished by Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan, 

 in the following general order : 



The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the 

 purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise deco- 

 rating the graves of comrades who died in defense of 

 their country during the late rebellion, and whoso 

 bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and ham- 

 let churchyard in the land. In 'this observance no 

 form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and com- 

 rades will in their own way arrange such fitting serv- 

 ices and testimonials of respect as circumstances may 

 permit. 



We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell 

 ua, for the purpose, among other things, '' of preserv- 

 ing and strengthening those kind and fraternal feel- 

 ings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, 

 and marines who united to suppress the late rebel- 

 lion." What can aid more to assure this result than 

 by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic 

 dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our 

 country and its foes ? Their soldier lives were the 

 reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their 

 deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We 

 should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All 

 that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation 

 can add to their adornment and security is but a fit- 

 ting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. 



Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed 

 ground. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and 

 going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no 

 vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, 

 testify to the present or to the coming generations 

 that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free 

 and undivided republic. 



If other eyes grow dull, and other hands slack, and 

 other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep 

 it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain. 



Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around 

 their sacred remains and garland the passionless 

 mounds above them with the choicest flowers of 

 springtime ; let us raise above them the dear old flag 

 they saved from dishonor ; let us in this solemn pres- 

 ence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom 

 they have left among us, a sacred charge upon a na- 

 tion's gratitude the soldier's and sailor's widow and 

 orphan. 



It is the purpose of the commander-in-chief to in- 

 augurate this observance with the hope that it will be 

 kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the 

 war remains to honor the memory of his departed 

 comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to 

 call attention to this order, and lend its friendly aid 

 in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of 

 the country in time for simultaneous compliance 

 therewith. 



Department commanders will use every effort to 

 make this order effective. 



The following resolution was adopted by the 

 National Encampment at Providence. 1877 : 



Inasmuch as there have been some differences of 

 opinion as to the intent and meaning of Memorial 

 Day, this encampment hereby calls attention to the 

 language of Chapter V, Article XIV, of the Eules 

 and Bcgulations, and, therefore, Resolved, That the 

 Grand Army of the Eepublic seeks thus to preserve 

 the memory of those only who fought in defense of 

 the national unity. 



The following was adopted at the encamp- 

 ment at Springfield, Mass., June, 1878: "Re- 

 solved, That all flags hoisted on Memorial Day, 

 be at half-mast." Among the proceedings ia 

 the following under date of April 17, 1873: 



1. Memorial Day Observance of Memorial Day is 

 obligatory. 



2. Private circumstances may excuse a comrade 

 from the observance : but a post that fails or refuses 

 should be subjected to discipline. 



3. Where a post fails to observe the day, it is not 

 obligatory on a member of the post. 



4. The manner or form of the observance left to the 

 posts. 



5. Neither the commander-in-chief nor the de- 

 partment commander has any authority to prescribe 

 a plan for the observance of Memorial Day. 



Is it the duty of posts or comrades to observe Me- 

 morial Day without any other authorization or direc- 

 tion than that obtained in the Eules and Eegulations, 

 Chapter V, Article XIV ? 



Is it discretionary with posts and comrades whether 

 they shall observe Memorial Day ? 



Would the failure of a post to make arrangements 

 for the observance of Memorial Day as a post, relieve 

 any member of that post from the duty of its observ- 

 ance? 



Do the Eules and Eegulations leave the method of 

 the observance of Memorial Day, and the arrange- 

 ments therefor, to the discretion of posts and com- 

 rades ? 



Has the commandcr-in-chief, or a department 

 commander, authority to prescribe any plan of action 

 by posts in the arrangements for the observance of 

 Memorial Day, or to interfere with the arrangement 

 of any post or comrade for its observance, either as a 

 post by itself, or in conjunction with other posts, or 

 as comrades individually ? 



