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 26th, 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 30th 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.
