Memorial Day

Dating back to the 1800’s, Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The tradition started after the Civil War with the decoration of fallen soldier’s grave sites with flowers, wreaths, flags, and other memorabilia.

Five thousand participants assisted with decorating over twenty thousand graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at the first national celebration held in the Arlington National Cemetery.

James Garfield’s, a former Union General, eloquent speech summed up many thoughts, “We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.”

~May 30, 1868 Arlington National Cemetery

We, at Educational Outfitters, remember and honor the uniform soldiers who died while serving in the country’s armed forces.