Home | Battles | Descendants | Find A Soldier | Monuments | Museum | Towns | Units | Site Map
Grand Army of the Republic
Decoration Day/Memorial Day
Gen. John A. Logan, Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic issued General Order No. 11, on 5 May, 1868. This directive instructed all members of the G.A.R., that:
"The 30th day of May is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land."
....it goes on at length instructing that it is the responsibility of the G.A.R. to keep alive the memory of those who did not return, and to aid and assist their families.
See also Downstreet, Vermont's Community Magazine for additional Memorial Day materials.
Sources:
Aldrich, Lewis Cass. "History of Franklin and Grand Isle Counties Vermont." Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co., publishers. 1891.
---. "History of Windsor County Vermont." Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co., publishers. 1888?
Manning, H. A. "St. Albans and Swanton (Vermont) Directory 1914." Springfield, MA: H. A. Manning Co. 1914.
Sturtevant, Ralph Orson. "Pictorial History: Thirteenth Vermont Volunteers, War of 1861-1865." Privately published, 1910.
Waite, L. P. "St. Albans City and Swanton Directory for 1895-1896..." Newburg, NY: L. P. Waite & Co. 1896
---. "St. Albans City and Swanton Directory for 1903-1904..." Newburgh, NY: L. P. Waite & Co. 1904