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Illinois’ connection to Memorial Day

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The mystic chords of memory that swelled into the chorus of remembrance we call Memorial Day had its first notes sounded in Decatur.

It all began with the Grand Army of the Republic, which called for the creation of Decoration Day in 1868, a commemoration that would eventually morph into the Memorial Day we honor today. So the GAR gave us Memorial Day, and a march back through history shows Decatur gave us the GAR.

The veterans organization for Union soldiers who served in the Civil War was actually the brainchild of Maj. Benjamin F. Stephenson, who lived in Springfield. His idea was to create something that could pool resources and help the “hungry and poor” widows and orphans left behind by his fellow soldiers killed in the war. He also thought it would be jolly to have something to promote “worthy comradeship” between the survivors who had lived to go home again. […]

With growth came publicity, and with publicity came political firepower and influence, which was being felt as early as 1868. That’s when the GAR’s second commander in chief, Maj. General John A. Logan, issued something called “General Order No. 11,” establishing May 30 as Decoration Day to honor Union veterans’ graves, and it wasn’t long before a grateful nation also snapped to attention and took notice of what the GAR was doing.

…Adding… A view of General Logan’s grave this morning…

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 30, 16 @ 8:52 am

Comments

And General Logan is another from central Illinois.

Comment by formerGOPer Monday, May 30, 16 @ 9:01 am
General Logan is buried in Washington D.C., just a few blocks from my house. He is buried not to far from Lincoln’s Cottage. Both of these are just blocks from the circle next to me, Grant Circle. As a kid from Central Illinois, I never feel too far from home.

Comment by GEV Monday, May 30, 16 @ 9:24 am
If you count Murphysboro as central Illinois…

Comment by DuPage Dave Monday, May 30, 16 @ 9:26 am
General John A. Logan’s birthplace was Murphysboro, Illinois, in Southern Illinois.

Comment by Clodhopper Monday, May 30, 16 @ 9:27 am
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/memorial-day-2012_b_1545507.html

For a more thorough analysis of who invented Memorial Day

Comment by ACG Monday, May 30, 16 @ 10:59 am
We visited the GAR memorial today, along with the Doughboy and three others. Lots of history, tradition, and loss.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, May 30, 16 @ 7:31 pm