Memorial Day service returning to city park

A Memorial Day service is scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon May 30 at Veterans Memorial Park on East Third Street in Washington.

The Washington-based Disabled American Veterans Chapter 48 and DAV Auxiliary, Unit 48, are sponsors of the event. In case of rain, the service will be held at the life center at Washington Assembly of God Church, 2029 W. Fifth St. The service is open to the pubic, according to Melba Sayer, commander of Unit 48.

The service will include honors being rendered to American military personnel and Merchant Marine personnel who died during wars and conflicts involving the United States.

The origin of Memorial Day is somewhat cloudy, but the reason for it is quite clear: Women’s groups in the South were decorating graves of Confederate soldiers before the end of the Civil War. Before the designation Memorial Day was first used in 1882, the day of remembrance and reconciliation was known as Decoration Day. Memorial Day became the official designation in 1967. In 1968, a federal law moved the observance of Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May, with that law taking effect in 1971.

According to the Web site www.memorialday.com, “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 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers. On May 5, 1868, Logan declared in General Order No. 11 that:

“The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.”

Several towns claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day.

Traditionally, a moment of silence is observed at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day. Another tradition calls for displaying the American flag at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Also, the National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The concert is broadcast on National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service.