Confederate Memorial Day

In the spring of 1866, the Ladies Memorial Association started the ball rolling on a holiday to remember and honor all of the Confederate soldiers that died. Originally it was celebrated on April 26^th, the anniversary of General Johnston’s final surrender to General Sherman at Bennett Place, NC. Memorial Day was inspired by Confederate Memorial Day as a way to remember all who died during the Civil War, not just the Confederates, and then later expanded to all lost lives in war. A few years after Confederate Memorial day started, the north followed along. They picked May 30^th as the date as not to coincide with any battle from the war. Some states have taken a meaningful day to remember specifically those Confederates who fought in the war. There is still contention surrounding the war and they want to make sure these soldiers don’t get forgotten; they put their lives on the line for the state and will not be lost.