Memorial Day, originally declared Decoration Day, was first observed as a national holiday on May 30, 1868, as a day to lay flowers on the graves of soldiers who died during the Civil War. Mary Ann Williams of Columbus, Georgia, is credited with originating the idea two years earlier. Southern women visited Civil War battlefields and laid flowers on the graves of Confederate and Union soldiers, an idea which was soon practiced throughout the nation. In 1971, the celebration was changed from May 30 to the last Monday in May, and so we celebrate this year on Monday, May 27.
Park City has celebrated Memorial Day in a grand way for many years. The Park Record reported in 1882 that townspeople gathered in the City Cemetery to decorate all the graves with flowers children had gathered from the hillsides. Flags marked the soldiers’ graves of the three Civil War soldiers – two who fought for the North and one who fought for the South. A celebration was held with remarks offered by Reverend Hill, followed by the impromptu singing of ‘America’ at the soldiers’ graves.
After the Glenwood Cemetery was founded in 1885, the Decoration Day celebrations became more elaborate, due in part to the participation of Park City’s fraternal organizations. Businesses were closed and a parade was added to the celebration.
Credit: Park City Historical Society & Museum, Raye Ringholz Collection
In 1892 Park City went all out. On June 4, 1892, the Park Record headline read “HONOR TO THE DEAD…The Largest and Most Imposing Procession Ever Witnessed in Park City’. Citizens gathered in town in the morning, anticipating the big event. School children, carrying flags and flowers, lined Main Street to welcome the parade participants. There were two uniformed marching bands, the Grand Army of the Republic, city officials, and members of eight fraternal organizations. After the parade passed, the school children followed, and the citizens brought up the rear.
This procession made its way to the Glenwood Cemetery where hundreds assembled for an impressive ceremony of songs, remarks, prayers and decorating of the graves. At the conclusion of the Glenwood ceremony, the procession lined up in reverse order and marched back to the top of Park Avenue and Main Street where it disbanded.
Such elaborate celebrations continued in the following years, but on May 30, 1895, eighteen inches of snow fell in town and the events were cancelled. The following year, however, celebrations were back in full swing.
Although we have no Memorial Day parade anymore, we still have the opportunity to honor the dead. The Museum is hosting a ceremony at the Glenwood Cemetery, where guests will place flags on the graves of 31 veterans. Glenwood gates will be open for vehicles from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Friday May 24 through Monday May 27. Docents will be present in the afternoon to share Glenwood history and help locate graves.
Happy Memorial Day from the Park City Museum!