Memorial Day - From The Birthplace Of A National Holiday

      The time is upon us, American citizens all, to once again, for the 141st year in a row, commemorate the observation of what we have come to know as Memorial Day.  It's a date marked on every calendar; a Monday holiday concluding a long, three-day weekend; a time many see as the unofficial start of the summer season.  It's a day we all know and have our own interpretation of...but how many know the actual, factual story behind this holiday?  Once you read my story, you all will know the true meaning behind Memorial Day.

      The fact that Waterloo, New York; a small upstate village located in the north-central heart of the Finger Lakes region, held the first complete Memorial Day observance on May 5th, 1866 has been proved conclusively.  The story begins in 1865, when Henry C. Welles, a local druggist, mentioned at a social gathering that, while praising the living heroes of the Civil War, it would be well to remember the patriotic dead by decorating their graves.  In the spring of 1866, he again mentioned the subject, this time to General John B. Murray, the Seneca County Clerk.  Murray, a Civil War hero and man of action, quickly advanced the thought and developed it.  Plans for a more complete observance were formulated by a committee of local citizens, veterans' support was enlisted, and it was decided to close all businesses and devote an entire day to honoring the war dead.  Townspeople adopted the idea wholeheartedly.

      The entire day was observed in a solemn and patriotic manner.  Ladies of the village gathered at Towsley Hall and prepared wreaths, crosses and bouquets for each veteran's grave.  At 6 o'clock in the morning, blooming lilacs were collected - either with or without the permission of the owners - just about every bush in town was attacked by enthusiastic hands.  The flowers were carted to the Grand Army of the Republic Post and Union Veteran's Union headquarters.  There wives, relatives and neighbors of passed veterans prepared bouquets for their graves.  The village was decorated with flags at half mast, draped with evergreen boughs, black buntings and mourning streamers and pictures of President Abraham Lincoln.  Veterans, civic societies and townspeople, led by General Murray, marched proudly and with dignity, to the strains of martial music with muffled drums to the three village cemetaries; Pioneer Cemetary, Bear Cemetary and Maple Grove Cemetary.  Ceremonies included an impressive speech by General Murray and the offering of prayers by The Rev. Samuel H. Gridley of the local St. Paul's Episcopal church.  When the eulogies were at an end, an honor guard of old veterans, who had carried rifles in the march, fired a salute at each cemetary.  Accounts state that Maud Murray, daughter of the general, was given the honor of decorating the first grave.  The services were somewhat long and the heat oppressive.

      On May 5th of the following year, these ceremonies were repeated.  In 1868, Waterloo joined with other communities in holding their observance on May 30th, in accordance with General John A. Logan's General Order No. 11.  But history had been made two years previously, when, on a day in early spring, Waterloo gave Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, to the nation. 

      Commander-In-Chief, General John A. Logan's General Order No. 11 begins "The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land."  In 1873, New York became the first state in the nation to proclaim Memorial Day as a public holiday by legislative action. 

      On March 7th, 1966, its centennial year, New York State Governor, Nelson A. Rockefellar, proclaimed Waterloo as the birthplace of Memorial Day.  Official recognition was given to Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of Memorial Day when both Houses of Congress passed House Concurrent Resolution 587 which reads in part as follows:  "Resolved that the Congress of the United States, in recognition of the patriotic tradition set in motion one hundred years ago in the village of Waterloo, New York, does hereby officially recognize Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of Memorial Day..."  This resolution introduced by Congressman Samuel S. Stratton unanimously passed the House of Representatives May 17th, 1966 and recieved the same unanimous appproval in the Senate two days later. 

      Waterloo's claim as the birthplace of Memorial Day was never widely publicized prior to then, and, for the most part, lay buried in the records of the past.  However, the story remained alive as part of our village tradition, and proof was preserved in local newspapers, Grand Army of the Republic records and numerous other documents.  The approaching holiday reminds local citizens and all the peoples of our land that the residents of our village held the first formal, village-wide annual observance of a day dedicated to honoring the war dead and its impact on our nation. 

      A two century old home on East Main Street, just steps from the main downtown business district, has been turned into the National Memorial Day Museum, serving as an extension of the Waterloo Library and Historical Society and Terwilliger Museum, housing information and displaying artifacts pertinent from the Civil War era to the present.  The museums are open to the public year round. Groundbreaking was held recently in Waterloo, New York, for the construction of the American Civil War Monument, dedicated to those who fought and lost their lives on both sides, the Union and the Confederacy; the North and the South.  Waterloo is also listed in the Guinness Book for setting a world record for most American flags flying in a small community in the year 2000 with 25,898 flags displayed representing six flags for every resident of this community with a population of less than 5,000 people.  While the rest of the country observes Memorial Day on the final Monday of the month of May, Waterloo not only participates then, but our main commemoration occurs each year on the original date of May 30th, whatever day of the week it falls on. 

      Now, you know the entire story behind this holiday, as we pause once again this year to honor the men and women of the military who gave their lives in the name fo freedom.  No matter where you are across our great nation, we invite you all to honor their memory, as Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day, keeps this annual observance alive and meaningful.