Remembering We Were Soldiers and Another America
Memorial Day originated after the Civil War to address the grief caused by the significant loss of life. Initially known as Decoration Day, it aimed to provide a public way for survivors to mourn their loved ones. The observance became important as cemeteries were filled with memories of the war and its impact on society.
- ▪Memorial Day was first instituted in the aftermath of the Civil War.
- ▪It was originally called Decoration Day.
- ▪The observance aimed to provide a public character to mourning for the deceased.
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Memorial Day was first instituted in the aftermath of the Civil War, to appease the suffering caused by the terrible bloodshed of that conflict, in which almost as many men died as in the wars of the 20th century combined. It had become necessary to give a public character to mourning since the survivors could not forget their family members, and the cemeteries, at that time still very much connected with churches, were full of the memory of the war, as were so many other institutions. At that time, it was called Decoration Day. Read Full Article »
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