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Origin and growth of Memorial Day in postwar America
A historian credits Lincoln's funeral as a catalyst for Memorial Day crediting widespread grief after the Civil War. The piece traces early observances from 1861 to 1866 across Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and New York, leading to General Orders No. 11 by General Logan in 1868 proclaiming a nationwide day of decorating graves. The observance spreads to Arlington and Philadelphia highlighting cross‑region reconciliation between former foes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lloyd Lewis
Abraham Lincoln
Liberty Magazine
Repub Mc
Warrentown
John Quincy Marr
Charleston
D. C
James Redpath
Montgomery
Ala
Fredericksburg
Camden
Ark
Up North
John J. Murmy
Waterloo
N. Y
Ils
Columbus
Miss
New York
Miles Finch
Ithaca, N. Y
Decatur
Grand Army of the Republic
John A. Logan
Illinois
Washington
Richmond
Charles L. Wilson
Chicago
Logan
United States
Old Willard Hotel
Adjutant General's Office
14Th Street
Washington, D. C
N. P. Chipman
Arlington
Arlington National Cemetery
Bull Run
Rappahannock
James A. Garfield
Cleveland
Ohio
Monument
Philadelphia
Brooklyn
Academy of Music
Roger A. Pryor