In 1865, Henry C. Welles, a druggist of Waterloo, N.Y. mentioned at a Social gathering that honor should be shown to the patriotic dead of the Civil War by decorating their graves. In 1866 he again mentioned it to General John B. Murray, Seneca County Clerk. General Murray embraced the idea and a committee was formulated to plan a day to honor the dead. Townspeople adopted the idea and wreaths, crosses, and bouquets were made for each veteran's grave. Flags were flown at half mast.
The first official recognition of Memorial Day was issued by General John A. Logan, first commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. This was General Order No. 11 establishing "Decoration Day" as it was known at the time. It was May 5, 1868, two years after Waterloo's observance. Waterloo joined other communities in the nation by having their ceremony on May 30th.
In 1965, a committee of community leaders started plans for the Centennial Celebration of Memorial Day. Their goals were: "to obtain national recognition of the fact that Waterloo is the birthplace of Memorial Day through Congressional Action" and "to plan and execute a proper celebration for such centennial observance."
In May of 1966 Waterloo was recognized as the "Birthplace of Memorial Day" by the U.S. Government. This recognition was long in coming.The Centennial Celebration that year brought dignitaries from government, military, veteran's organizations and descendants of the original founders of Memorial Day. A luxurious home on Waterloo's Main St. built in 1850, was restored and how houses the Memorial Day Museum, housing artifacts of the first Memorial Day and the the Civil War era.
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Happy Memorial Day to all our American friends!
Memorial Day
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