| Show Memorial D Day Observed oo May 30 3 J 3 Petersburg Va claims the distinction of DC being bling the originator of MemorIal Day D y now nov generally obI ob served on one date or another I the th United Stat States v On June 9 1861 General l Kautz nth Ith 20 Federal cavalrymen marched on Petersburg then un- un unguarded unguarded un unguarded guarded except for a few Confederate erate pickets Hastily old men merand and boys bo s of th the home guard p were gathered together to oppose the Federals and partially checked advance until an nn army of Con Confederate Confederate federate cavalry arrived cd ai rived 11 of the defenders being killed The next year eal on the first an of the battle tho people of Petersburg decorated the th graves I of these dead In 1868 firs Mn Logan of General John Ai A wife Logan then Commander of th the tho G i A P R happened to visit Pet Pct on onIta onita Its Ita memorial day and Si-at Si was no so im impressed impressed pressed sed with the beautiful tribute of oC flo era and flags that she he sug- sug suggested sug sug- suggested sted to the general that it should be 00 made a national custom The next net year ear he issued an order for forthe forthe forthe the observance of rhy M 30 by the veterans veteran of tho G GAR A R and the custom tom has ha continued In the South April 26 is observed observed observed ed in Alabama Georgia MIssIsSippi Mississippi Mississippi sippi and Florida May 10 In North and South Carolina the sec second secand second and ond Friday in Ma Mas Main in Tennessee e and June 3 in Louisiana While Virginia observes the nn as national bonal date May 30 SO Petersburg tIn still keeps its custom of or decorating its graves gra on ou June 9 also thus hay hav haying m ing two memorial days each year Thu Thus according to the claim of that city citi t the tho nation v vide Ide ven vearl h tribute to the dead veterans of both North N 01 th and ind South had its on on glOn gion in the commemoration of the valor of that heroic little bard of Petersburg defenders |
