Why Memorial Day Exists

Welcome to the 60 Second Rabbit Hole…the reason behind the things we do.

Memorial Day originally began after the Civil War as a way to honor the soldiers who died during the deadliest conflict in American history. The Civil War was fought between Americans over what kind of country the United States was going to become, with slavery at the center of the conflict.

Southern states wanted to keep a system and economy heavily tied to slave labor, while the North wanted to stop slavery from spreading as the country grew. The war tore apart families, towns, and entire communities. More than 620,000 Americans died over this conflict, and grief was everywhere.

Memorial Day was originally called “Decoration Day” because families would literally decorate gravesites to honor those who never came home. Many Civil War soldiers were buried near battlefields instead of being returned home, and thousands were never formally identified.

In the late 1860s, communities began decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, handwritten notes, and flags. The day used to be incredibly quiet. It focused on cemetery gatherings and moments of silence, not big celebrations and cookouts.

And maybe that’s part of why Memorial Day still matters.

Not because Americans always agree. We clearly don’t. The Civil War was one of the most painful and divided moments in our country’s history.

But for a moment each year, we pause to honor those who died and remember how much sacrifice shaped the country we live in today.

We’re not pretending America has always gotten everything right, but we recognize the people who gave their lives as our country pushed toward something better together.

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