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First National Observance

Name: First National Observance
Start: 1868-05-30
Location: United States

When: May 30, 1868
Where: United States
Part of: Event of 1868: Memorial Day is observed in the United States for the first time (it was proclai

The first national observance of Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868, following General Order No. 11 issued by General John A. Logan.

General Order No. 11 designated May 30, 1868, as a day for observing the holiday. This event formalized the practice of decorating soldiers' graves, which had begun in Southern states two years earlier. The observance involved ceremonies in numerous cemeteries across the United States.

Sources

Memorial Day Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-13

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