Decoration Day | Civil War Remembrance at Greenfield Village

   The history of Memorial Day begins with Decoration Day.  During the American Civil War nearly 3 million people fought in battle and an estimated 750,000 people died.  This was a great loss for our country.   In 1868, three years after the Civil War ended the head of the Union veterans and national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, Major General John Logan, issued a proclamation that May 30th would be observed as Decoration Day  to remember and honor the Civil War dead---- decorating their graves with spring flowers.  The first observance at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C. was on May 30, 1868 with prominent Washington officials presiding over the ceremony including General and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant.  Afterwards, members of the Grand Army of the Republic and children of the 'Soldiers and Sailors' Orphan home walked through Arlington National Cemetery scattering flowers on the graves of the Union and Confederate soldiers---- reciting prayers and singing hymns.

  After WW1 Decoration Day was extended to those who died in all American wars.  In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of congress and is observed on the third Monday of May.

     During Memorial Day weekend,  Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan hosts a Civil War Remembrance event.  This is the first year that we have been to Greenfield Village on Memorial Day.  We have an annual membership and attend most of the events at the village.  The Civil War Remembrance weekend was exceptional. 

Civil War Era Cannon 

Reproduction Civil War Era Posters 

Artillery Demo at Walnut Grove 

                                                     

                                                  Volunteers in Civil War Costumes

                                      Many of the volunteers camp over night in the village.

                                     Camp Chase Drum & Fife (Scotch Settlement School)

We took a ride on the Edison train. 

And we went for a ride in a Ford Model T.

A nice ending to a beautiful day.

A visit to Greenfield Village isn't complete without going to the Dearborn Beefcarver!

                              Early American Décor----it's almost as if we never left the village!

       I highly recommend a visit to Greenfield Village, the Henry Ford Museum and the Sign of the Beefcarver when in the Metro Detroit area.   All three venues are national treasures in my humble opinion. 

~Marcie