Memorial Day Has It's Roots in the Civil War
Originally named Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day to remember those that died in the service of the United States. The actual beginnings of Memorial Day as well as the place and date it was first observed is a matter of contention. Some say that the holiday got it's roots from organized women's groups in the South who were decorating the graves of Confederate soldiers before the Civil War's end.
The first official proclamation naming Memorial Day as a national holiday was on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, commander of the Army of the Republic. Flowers were placed on both Confederate and Union soldier's graves at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30th, 1868. The first state to recognize the holiday officially was New York in 1873. Memorial Day was recognized by all of the remaining northern states by 1890.
The Confederate states did not recognize the holiday until the end of World War 1 when Memorial Day was changed to honor all US soldiers who died in any war while in the service of their country. Memorial Day is now officially recognized as being on the last Monday in June. Several southern states have other dates on which they honor Confederate war deaths as well as observing the traditional Memorial Day holiday.