About Memorial Day

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It is a day of remembrance for those who have died in the service of our nation.

Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon
Johnson in May 1966, but it’s difficult to prove the origins of the day. There is also
evidence that a women’s group in the South decorated graves before the end of the Civil War.
In either case, Memorial Day has had numerous starts due to the human need to honor the dead.
Though some people think it’s a day to honor any and all dead, Memorial Day is intended to
honor those who have given their all in service to our country.