It seems like a little-known fact, but in 1966, United States President Lyndon Johnson signed a proclamation naming Waterloo, New York as the birthplace of this national holiday.  That was after Congress had adopted a resolution which officially recognized that the patriotic tradition of Memorial Day had begun 100 years earlier in this small community which is located southwest of Syracuse.  There is now a Memorial Day museum in the town of just over 5,000 residents.

Museum
Waterloony.com
loading...

If you are old enough, you may remember when this holiday was referred to as Decoration Day.  The graves of those who had lost their lives in service of their country were decorated with American flags for May 30th.  In 1968, Congress pass the Uniform Holiday act with moved Memorial Day from the 30th of May to the last Monday of the month.

More From Lite 98.7