Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day of remembering those who have died in our nation's service.
There are several stories as to its actual origins, with over twenty four cities and towns claiming to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that, before the end of the Civil War, organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves. A hymn was published in 1867 by Nella L. Sweet which carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead."
While Waterloo N.Y. was formally announced as the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in the month of May 1966, it's tough to affirm conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had several individual beginnings. Each of those towns and every spontaneous or planned assembling of people to honor those dead in the war in the 1860's, struck into the minds of the general human need to honor our dead. This contributed honorably to the increasing movement that culminated in Gen Logan passing his official statement in 1868. It does not matter who was the very first, what matters is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about disconnection. It is about coming together to honor those who gave their all, about reconciliation.