Memorial Day: One of the Earliest Celebrations

“Let’s remember those brave men and women who died while serving the U.S. military”

In May 1865, just after the war ended, more than 10,000 people many of whom had been enslaved until the city was liberated just months led a procession in the ruined city of Charleston, SC. to commemorate the lives of 257 Union captives who were hastily buried in a mass grave at a former racecourse. In approximately 10 days leading up to the tribute, roughly 28 Black Charlestonians, reorganized the graves into rows and built a 10-foot-tall white fence around them. An archway overhead spelled out “Martyrs of the Race Course” in black letters.

In the morning, on May 1, 1865, the procession to the special cemetery was led by some 3,000 schoolchildren (newly enrolled in freedmen’s schools) carrying roses and singing the Union marching song paraded around the racetrack. The children were followed by 300 black women, representing the Patriotic Association, followed with baskets of flowers, wreaths and crosses, according to historical accounts. Next, the Mutual Aid Society, a benevolent association of Black men, marched in cadence around the track, and into the cemetery, followed by large crowds of local citizens. The official dedication ceremony was conducted by the ministers all black churches in Charleston. black pastors delivered sermons and led attendees in prayer and in the singing of spirituals. After the dedication, there were speeches and picnics were held around the grounds. 

Cities in the North and South began honoring their war dead. In May 1866, Waterloo, NY. held its first formal village wide annual day of observance. The day was decorated with flags at half-staff, “draped with evergreens and mourning black. For many years, the commemoration was widely referred to as “Decoration Day.” But as it evolved to honor not only Civil War soldiers but all troops who had fallen serving the country, Americans began referring to the observance as “Memorial Day”.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/article/memorial-day-history.html

https://time.com/5836444/black-memorial-day/

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/memorial-day/

Dr. David Blight book, Race and Reunion:The Civil War in American Memory