The birthplace of Memorial Day occurred in nearby Waterloo, NY. There is a large NY State marker located on Routes 5 and 20, West Main Street at the southwest corner of Lafayette Park, in Waterloo with the following words:
On May 5, 1866, the residents of Waterloo held the first complete, community-wide observance of Memorial Day. They dedicated the entire day to honoring the Civil War dead in a solemn and patriotic manner. Throughout the village, flags, draped in mourning, flew at half mast. Ladies prepared wreathes and bouquets for each veteran’s grave. Businesses closed, and veterans, civic organizations and townspeople marched to the strains of martial music to the village cemeteries. There, with reverent prayers and patriotic ceremonies, the tradition of Memorial Day was born.
Henry C. Welles, a prominent citizen, first proposed the idea for a day completely devoted to honoring the Civil War dead. General John B. Murray, the Seneca County Clerk, who had commanded the 148th New York Infantry Regiment in the war, quickly advanced the thought and marshalled community support. Since that year, Waterloo has annually observed Memorial Day. New York, in 1873, became the first state to proclaim Memorial Day, or Decoration Day, as it was originally called, a public holiday.
In May 1966, a Joint resolution by the United States Congress and a proclamation by President Lyndon B. Johnson officially recognized Waterloo as the birthplace of Memorial Day.
While Memorial Day has always been an important day for me to honor the many dead soldiers in my past, this Memorial Day is extra special (and tough) because my Dad is now on the list of people I am honoring today. I would fly my flag at half-mast for my Dad if my flag pole allowed that, but I am still flying it for him.
My Dad on the 1943 WWII U.S.S. Monterey aircraft carrier as an electrician during the Korean War.
P.S. I used to wear those wool pants he has on in this photo in the wintertime when I was a teenager - they were the most comfortable pants! Except if you had to go the bathroom bad, all of those buttons. . .
