Decatur's pre-Memorial Day parade and ceremony on Saturday, May 21, 2016, was a huge hit. Honoring those who fought for our freedoms, this meaningful event was an excellent way for the community to pay tribute and have some fun.
The downtown parade got underway at 11 a.m., and was followed by a very special ceremony that started at noon in Central Park. It featured guest speakers, the Macon County Honor Guard, and music by The Greater Decatur Chorale and The Decatur Municipal Band.
As Americans, many of us will be celebrating this holiday by firing up the grill, heading to the beach or watching a big blockbuster movie, but it’s important to also keep in mind that Memorial Day has the word “memorial” in it for a very important reason as mentioned above.
It all began on May 30, 1868, when Union General John A. Logan declared the day as a time to decorate the burials of Civil War soldiers. Two decades later, the name was switched to Memorial Day. Then in 1950, Congress passed a resolution requesting that the President issue a proclamation calling on Americans to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace. However, that request wasn’t fulfilled until 1971, which is when President Richard Nixon officially declared Memorial Day a federal holiday. It is now observed on the last Monday of May.
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