On May 30, 1868, a national day of remembrance called Decoration Day was observed for the first time at Arlington National Cemetery. The day had been proclaimed by General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans. Participants decorated the graves of Civil War soldiers with flowers, honoring those who had died in the conflict. Over time, similar observances spread across the country and began to include fallen soldiers from later wars. Decoration Day eventually evolved into Memorial Day, which honors all U.S. military personnel who have died in service. The 1868 observance helped establish a tradition of national remembrance that continues today.
