National Moment of Remembrance
By 349 Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
http://349amw.afrc.af.mil 349 AMW
Published May 28, 2018
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation’s Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30th, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War Soldiers.
Army Gen. John A. Logan, the commander in chief of the veterans’ organization, Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed May 30th as Decoration Day by General Order 11 on May 5th, 1868. This was two years after the 1866 commemoration in Waterloo, New York. By Congressional proclamation in 1966, Waterloo was cited as the birthplace of Memorial Day a hundred years earlier.
After World War I, the day came to be observed in honor of those who had died in all U.S. wars. It was renamed Memorial Day. Since 1971, Memorial Day has been observed on the last Monday in May.
Memorial Day is traditionally observed with the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia; a wreath laying at the Air Force Memorial, also in Arlington near our Nations Capitol, and by religious services, parades and speeches nationwide.
Flags, insignia and flowers are placed on the graves of veterans in local cemeteries.
This day also marks the National Moment of Remembrance. Established by Congress, this sliver of time sets aside a moment for all Americans, wherever they are at 3 p.m., local time, on Memorial Day, to pause in an act of national unity. The Moment does not replace traditional Memorial Day events – rather, it is a time – a minute — for all to honor and respect those who died for our freedom.
In this shared moment of remembrance, we connect as Americans — wherever you are.
