Memory and Memorial

When the holiday came to pass this year, I learned that Memorial Day was partially inspired by Black soldiers who fought for this country. When 257 of them died fighting for the Union, they were left in unmarked graves. But local villagers chose to dig up the bodies and worked for two weeks to give the soldiers a proper burial service as gratitude for fighting for their freedom. They even held a parade of 10,000 people, led by Black children. This was one of several instances following the Civil War that led to the founding of Decoration Day, a precursor to the modern Memorial Day that was formally established several years later.