Waterloo, N.Y. is considered the birthplace of this holiday because the people of Waterloo were the first people to proclaim a day on May 5, 1866 to honor the soldiers who died in the Civil War. They closed their businesses and placed flowers and flags on the graves of their soldiers. Flags were flown at half-mast.
Memorial Day Holiday was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Day first observed on May 30, 1868
Congress changed the observed Memorial Day date in 1968 to the last Monday in May to ensure a three day weekend.
