Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers.
During the first national celebration, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there. This event was inspired by local observances of the day that had taken place in several towns throughout America in the three years since the Civil War. By the late 1800s, many more cities and communities had begun to observe Memorial Day, and after World War I, it became an occasion for honoring those who had died in all America’s wars.
The date of the I Did the Grid Walk/Run was chosen to fall on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend each year in order to encourage everyone to remember that this weekend is not about the beginning of summer, barbecues or “the day the pool opens.” It is a day to remember that brave men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice for each one of us so that we may live free.