Memorial Day’s True Meaning: Q&A with Dr. Matthew Spalding

Mike Brownfield / May 30, 2011

What does Memorial Day really mean? In a special Memorial Day podcast, The Heritage Foundation’s vice president of American Studies, Dr. Matthew Spalding, discusses the historical roots of this day. And below, we share with you a Q&A with Dr. Spalding in which he discusses that history, how Memorial Day came to be, and what it means for America

When did Memorial Day become an official holiday?

Spalding: There’s actually an interesting history to Memorial Day.  On the one hand, there’s nothing unusual about countries historically having a day to celebrate their war dead – which is essentially what Memorial Day is.  Ours really began after the Civil War, around 1866-1867, when veterans from the Civil War on both sides wanted to honor their war dead.  They actually came together in a celebration – originally called Decoration Day – to unite the northerners and the southerners who wanted to honor each others’ dead, because they realized the great sacrifice that was made.  Memorial Day arises out of this unification and recognition of sacrifice after the Civil War, though it was not designated as a federal holiday until the 1970s.  It’s important to remember the history of the day before the holiday was made official. (more…)