The Birthplace of Memorial Day Is Right Here In New York

Several U.S. towns claim ties to the origins of Memorial Day, but only one in New York holds a Presidential proclamation designating it the holiday's birthplace.

As you celebrate the start of Summer this weekend, I am sure you will also be taking some time on Memorial Day to reflect and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Freedom. It turns out the tradition of honoring America's fallen heroes started in Waterloo, New York.

Waterloo lies about halfway between Syracuse and Rochester, and the town began commemorating our fallen heroes on Memorial Day back in 1866. When President Lyndon B. Johnson declared Memorial Day a National Holiday in 1966,  he recognized Waterloo as the birthplace of the tradition.

Now, there are other towns that claim to be the birthplace as well. You can read more about them in the New York Times article.

All debates aside about where the holiday originated, it's nice to see that honoring our heroes was rooted in MANY places across the country. It shows a common thread among Americans of appreciation for the brave men and women who have kept us free.

God Bless the USA.