Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. Many cities and towns claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day.  Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966. It is really not that important where it started but why. It was borne out of the civil war and a desire to honor our dead. Officially proclaimed 5 May 1868. General John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the republic in General Order no 11 declared “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle. Please take the time to remember those who have lost their lives in defense of this great country.