The Origins of Memorial Day

#Memorial Day originated spontaneously in celebration of the end of the Civil War in the spring of 1865. The nation’s bloodiest conflict ever, the Civil War led to the establishment of the first national cemeteries, and tributes to the fallen soon followed. Waterloo, N.Y., is recognized as the official birthplace of the holiday, History.com says, since it hosted the first communitywide event in 1866 and decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags. Thanks to Gen. John A Logan, a veterans advocate, an annual commemoration — christened Decoration Day — was established in late May 1868. #MemorialDay