Historic New York

Historic New York
Memorial Day
On May 5, 1866, the residents of Waterloo held the first complete,community-wide observance of Memorial Day. They dedicated the entire day to honoring the Civil War dead in a solemn and patriotic manner. Throughout the village, flags, draped in mourning, flew at half mast. Ladies prepared wreaths and bouquets for each veteran's grave. Businesses closed, and veterans, civil organizations and townspeople marched to the strains of martial music to the village cemeteries. There, with reverent prayers and patriotic ceremonies, the tradition of Memorial Day was born.

Henry C. Welles, a prominent citizen, first proposed the idea for a day completely devoted to honoring the Civil War dead. General John B. Murray, the Seneca County Clerk, who had commanded the 148th New York Infantry Regiment in the war, quickly advanced the thought and marshaled community support. Since that year, Waterloo has annually observed Memorial Day. New York, in 1873, became the first state to proclaim Memorial Day, or Decoration Day, as it was originally called, a public holiday.

In May 1966, a joint resolution by the United States Congress and a proclamation by President Lyndon B. Johnson officially recognized Waterloo as the birthplace of Memorial Day.

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Show me all markers in:  Waterloo, NY  |  Seneca County  |  13165  |  New York  |  United States of America

General Sullivan's New York Campaign Trail
General Murray Residence
Celebrating 100 Years of High School Education in Waterloo
Skio-Yase
Korean Veterans Memorial, a War Memorial
Sampson Naval Training Station Veterans, a War Memorial
War Memorial
General Lafayette
War Memorial
Civil War Memorial, a War Memorial

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