Okla-homey
5/28/2007, 12:17 PM
In case you were wondering, the remembrance began in 1868, three years after the Civil War ended. The "Grand Army of the Republic" or G.A.R. was a Union army veterans organization rather like the several veteran organizations which exist today. It's head in 1868 was MG John A. Logan of Illinois who is generally credited with getting the Memorial Day ball rolling with the below order to all G.A.R. members and posts.
HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
General Orders No.11, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868
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 almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.
We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion."
What can aid more to assure this result than 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 fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. 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, 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 to us.
Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from hishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.
It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate 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 lend its friendly aid in bringing to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.
Department commanders will use efforts to make this order effective.
By order of
JOHN A. LOGAN,
Commander-in-Chief
N.P. CHIPMAN,
Adjutant General
Official:
WM. T. COLLINS, A.A.G.
http://aycu23.webshots.com/image/17022/2003507568467842405_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003507568467842405)
MG John A. Logan as he appeared during the war.
John Alexander Logan (February 8, 1826 – December 26, 1886), was an American soldier and political leader. He served in the Mexican-American War and was a general in the Union Army in the American Civil War. He served the state of Illinois as a Senator and was an unsuccessful candidate for Vice President of the United States.
http://aycu29.webshots.com/image/17868/2003588020930955481_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003588020930955481)
Presidential candidate James G. Blaine and VP candidate Logan formed the GOP ticket in 1884. They were defeated by Democrat Grover Cleveland who was the first Democrat elected to the White House since before the Civil War almost thirty years earlier. Interestingly, the campaign was marked by excessive (by the standards of the day) mud-slinging. Blaine accused Cleveland of siring an illegitimate child. The popular GOP slogan was "Ma, Ma, Where's my Pa?" alluding to Cleveland's kid asking his mother where his daddy was. After Cleveland won, his supporters used the slogan and added, "Gone to the White House, ha ha ha!"
HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
General Orders No.11, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868
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 almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.
We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion."
What can aid more to assure this result than 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 fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. 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, 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 to us.
Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from hishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.
It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate 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 lend its friendly aid in bringing to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.
Department commanders will use efforts to make this order effective.
By order of
JOHN A. LOGAN,
Commander-in-Chief
N.P. CHIPMAN,
Adjutant General
Official:
WM. T. COLLINS, A.A.G.
http://aycu23.webshots.com/image/17022/2003507568467842405_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003507568467842405)
MG John A. Logan as he appeared during the war.
John Alexander Logan (February 8, 1826 – December 26, 1886), was an American soldier and political leader. He served in the Mexican-American War and was a general in the Union Army in the American Civil War. He served the state of Illinois as a Senator and was an unsuccessful candidate for Vice President of the United States.
http://aycu29.webshots.com/image/17868/2003588020930955481_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003588020930955481)
Presidential candidate James G. Blaine and VP candidate Logan formed the GOP ticket in 1884. They were defeated by Democrat Grover Cleveland who was the first Democrat elected to the White House since before the Civil War almost thirty years earlier. Interestingly, the campaign was marked by excessive (by the standards of the day) mud-slinging. Blaine accused Cleveland of siring an illegitimate child. The popular GOP slogan was "Ma, Ma, Where's my Pa?" alluding to Cleveland's kid asking his mother where his daddy was. After Cleveland won, his supporters used the slogan and added, "Gone to the White House, ha ha ha!"