• Henry C. Welles, a druggest in Waterloo, NY, suggested in 1865 that honor should be shown to the patriotic dead of the Civil War by decorating their graves. His townspeople adopted the idea in 1866.
• On May 5, 1866, a parade was held in Waterloo and wreaths, crosses, and bouquets were made and placed on each veteran's grave.
• The first official recognition of "Decoration Day" was issued by General John A. Logan on May 5, 1868. It was then observed on May 30, 1868 when flowers were placed on graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
• The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after WWI when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.
• Since the late 1950's, on the Thursday before Memorial Day the 1,200 soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery.
• Memorial Day was observed on May 30 until 1968 when Congress moved the holiday to the last Monday in May to ensure a three day weekend.

Photo Found:  http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/pubpaps/1998portv1.html
Information Found:
    http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyseneca/memorial.htm
    http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html