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In 1865, a pharmacist named Henry C. Welles, of Waterloo, NY, was at a summer social event when he suggested that while praising the living heroes as they returned from fighting in the Civil War, it would be well to remember the patriotic dead by decorating their graves. It took the better part of a year, but with the support of Civil War hero and Seneca County Clerk, General John B. Murray, a committee was formed that made wreaths, crosses and bouquets for each veteran's grave. On May 5, 1866, a highly elaborate observance of Decoration Day was held. War veterans, civic societies, and townspeople marched to each of three cemeteries, to the tunes of martial music. All of the graves were decorated and speeches were made by General Murray and local clergymen. The village of Waterloo, located within 20 miles of Harriet Tubman's Auburn, NY home, and within 6 miles of Susan B. Anthony's Seneca Falls, NY home, was decorated also, with flags at half-mast, evergreen boughs and mourning black streamers.

In 1868 the first commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, General John A. Logan, issued a General Order establishing May 30 as an official memorial day to pay respect to all those who had died, in war or peace. He ordered the men in his command to spend a portion of that day policing the gravesites, decorating them and supporting as many ceremonies as possible.

During the next 75 years, Memorial Day came to be the occasion for remembering those who fought in other conflicts besides the Civil War. Its federally recognized date was moved from May 30 to the last Monday in May. And, in 1966, President Lyndon Baines Johnson sanctioned Waterloo, New York, as the "official" birthplace of Memorial Day.

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