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Team Fairchild honors the fallen

  • Published
  • By 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor those who died in the Civil War by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30th, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War Soldiers.

Army Gen. John A. Logan, the commander in chief of the veterans' organization, Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed May 30th as Decoration Day by General Order 11 on May 5, 1868. This was two years after the 1866 commemoration in Waterloo, New York.

After World War I, the observance was renamed Memorial Day and expanded to honor those who had died in all U.S. wars.

Memorial Day has been observed on the last Monday in May Since 1971.

Memorial Day is traditionally observed with the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, a wreath laying at the Air Force Memorial and by religious services, parades and speeches nationwide.

Team Fairchild honored the fallen during various ceremonies around the local community including the Eastern Washington Veterans Cemetery and Riverside Memorial Park.