Happy Memorial Day
This Memorial Day, we pause to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. As we remember their sacrifice, it’s also a time to reflect on the stories that shaped the communities they called home.
Memorial Day began as “Decoration Day” in the aftermath of the Civil War, when communities across the country—Black and White, North and South—honored fallen soldiers by adorning their graves with flowers.
The tradition was formalized in 1868 by the Grand Army of the Republic, led by General John A. Logan, who called for a national day of remembrance. Though many towns claim to be the holiday’s birthplace, recent scholarship credits the women of Columbus, Georgia, with helping establish the first official observance in 1866.
In honor and celebration of our fallen soldiers and the country they gave their lives to protect, take 25% off series-wide off of our historic Images of America series through the weekend.