The Idea of Memorial Day

In 1865, Henry C. Welles, a druggist in Waterloo, New York, mentioned at a social gathering that honor should be shown to the patriotic dead of the Civil War by decorating their graves. Again, in the spring of 1866 he mentioned it again, this time to General John B. Murray, a Seneca County, New York Clerk. General Murray embraced the idea and formed a committee to plan a day devoted to honoring the dead.

On May 5, 1866, civic societies and townspeople adopted the idea completely. Wreaths, crosses and bouquets were made for each veteran's grave. The town was also decorated with flags flying at half-staff, green boughs and black streamers.

A procession to the three existing cemeteries in town was led by veterans marching to marital music. At each cemetery, a lengthy service included a speech by General Murray and local clergymen. The townspeople then placed the wreaths, crosses and bouquets they had made on the grave of each of the dead veterans. The town of Waterloo repeated this ceremony again the following year.

The first official recognition of Memorial Day was on May 5, 1867 by General John A. Logan, Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. He issued General Order No.11 establishing "Decoration Day" as it was know then. That year, Waterloo joined other communities in the Nation by having their ceremony on May 30.

In 1965, a committee of community leaders started plans for the Centennial Celebration of Memorial Day. This committee included VFW Commander James McCann, chairman, and American Legion Commander Oliver J. McFall. The goal of the committee was to "obtain national recognition of the fact that Waterloo is the birthplace of Memorial Day through Congressional action". In May 1966, Waterloo was recognized as the "Birthplace of Memorial Day" by the United States Government.