By Gabrielle Page, Wilberforce Fellow
Memorial Day Sale! Get your furniture, technology, and mattresses 25% off! Go camping on your long weekend! Hear a band play some old American tunes! Eat some hot dogs, have a barbecue, shoot some fireworks!
These and so many other phrases touted by TV commercials, the news, and even our friends are a pointed indication of what Memorial Day has become in the American mind. Memorial Day kicks off summer, where you can finally wear white and go to the pool. You can go watch parades and sing peppy American tunes like “Dixie” and “Yankee Doodle” or travel home to see family.
But perhaps we have lost a sense of what Memorial Day truly is. To understand its significance, we must return to its origin.
The American Civil War ended on April 9, 1865, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House. The Civil War was the bloodiest war in American history, with conservative estimates putting the death toll for combatants at 500,000, and many historians stating it was over 600,000.[1][2] By contrast, roughly 515,000 soldiers died in World War I and II combined.[3]
After the war ended, the bodies of soldiers on both sides had been left in mass graves without the honor of a proper burial. Dr. David Blight, an American historian, said that in 1865, residents of Charleston, South Carolina, exhumed and reburied Union soldiers that had died in a prison camp. Many of these residents were newly freed African-American slaves. The new graves were decorated with flowers and dedicated.[4][5]
Similar events occurred across the United States. Americans—and mostly women—in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Mississippi, Georgia, New York, and other states buried the dead with honors and laid flowers or other decorations on their graves. Most did this for all the soldiers’ graves, regardless of which side they had fought for.[6][7]
Over time, the ceremonies became more official. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), an organization of veterans, promoted a nationwide day of remembrance on March 30, 1868. The leader of GAR, John Logan, urged proper respect for the dead’s sacrifice:
“We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance … Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no 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.”[8]
In 1873, New York adopted May 30officially as “Decoration Day,” and soon other states followed suit.[9]
The practice of Decoration Day evolved over the next century. After World War I, the remembrance was expanded to include all American soldiers who had given their lives for the nation, not just those in the Civil War. Although the location of the first Decoration Day is contested, the U.S. government officially recognized its birthplace as Waterloo, New York, in 1966, and then-President Lyndon B. Johnson gave a speech commemorating the 100th anniversary of “Memorial Day.” In 1971, Memorial Day was made a federal holiday and changed to the last Monday in May.[10]
In 2000, Congress passed a resolution that on Memorial Day at 3 p.m., a moment of remembrance be taken. All Americans should take a moment of silence or listen to “Taps,” remembering the service of American soldiers who have lost their lives.[11]
So then, knowing Memorial Day’s history, how ought we to respond?
An attitude of solemn commemoration and remembrance is certainly appropriate. The truth is, we as humans do not like to mourn or be sad. People prefer to think about happy things. Wars remind us of the world’s brokenness, that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Wars are characterized by death, exhibiting humanity’s depravity and cruelty. Of course, we prefer to celebrate America’s greatness and spend fun times with friends and family. But rejoicing without any sorrow would be a disservice to all those who gave their lives for this great country.
We know that reminders are important. Throughout the Old Testament, God constantly gave the Israelites reminders of His goodness and provision. The yearly Passover reminded His people of God’s salvation in Egypt. (Exodus 13:3-6). The Israelites remembered God by placing twelve stones in the river Jordan in Joshua 4. God knows how easily humanity forgets. Just as the Israelites remembered their past and what had been done for them, we ought to honor the Lord who has preserved our nation and remember the selfless sacrifice of our fallen each Memorial Day.
An attitude of celebration is also appropriate. John 15:13 reminds us, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” On Memorial Day, even as we remember, we celebrate the many lives lived with such great love. By enjoying life, family, and the rich blessings of liberty, we can honor the lives that were sacrificed on our behalf. The families left behind by those killed in action can be enveloped in loving community and be reminded that they are not alone or forgotten.
Finally, Memorial Day should be a time of unity for America. The women laying flowers on soldiers’ graves in 1865 did not discriminate between their own dead and those who fought against them. With equal respect and solemnity, they honored both because all were Americans who loved freedom more than life. Regardless of our personal creeds, religious beliefs, political ideologies, or backgrounds, all Americans should, on this day, set aside our differences and celebrate the values and principles that unite us. Let us honor those who fought for our sakes and resolve with grateful hearts to make good use of the liberties they died to preserve.
As early as the 1860’s, some Americans feared Memorial Day losing its solemnity in favor of celebration. The New York Times in 1869 and the New York Tribune in 1875 and 1878 lamented the loss of sober gratitude in favor of joy and diversion.[12] To be sure, patriotically displaying love for our country is appropriate. But perhaps those early newspapers were right. Perhaps we ought to remember the cost of being able to sing patriotic songs and march in parades. For this Memorial Day and all those to come, let us never forget the enormous cost of our freedom. Come together as communities. Honor the fallen. And give thanks.
[1] United States: war fatalities1775-2024| Statista
[2] How many Americans have died in U.S. wars? | PBS News
[3] America’s Wars: U.S. Casualties and Veterans
[4] Memorial Day | Weekend, Meaning, Facts, & History | Britannica
[5] Memorial Day – Over 150 Years of Remembrance (U.S. National Park Service)
[6] Memorial Day | Weekend, Meaning, Facts, & History | Britannica
[7] Memorial Day – Over 150 Years of Remembrance (U.S. National Park Service)
[12] Memorial Day – Over 150 Years of Remembrance (U.S. National Park Service)
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