About this episode
Jenna explores the many stories behind the origins of Memorial Day and its significance in American culture.
What is the real origin of Memorial Day? More than 20 places across the United States claim a connection to the beginning of Memorial Day — and historians still don’t point to one single story as the origin. In this episode, Jenna explores the many stories behind one of America’s most solemn national holidays, from Charleston, South Carolina, to Waterloo, New York, to Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial Day honors the men and women who died in service to the United States. But over time, the holiday has also become a long weekend filled with barbecues, parades, sales and family gatherings. How do we hold both truths together — the grief and the gratitude, the remembrance and the rest? In this special Memorial Day episode, we look back at the Civil War origins of the holiday, the role of local communities in decorating soldiers’ graves and General John A. Logan’s 1868 order calling Americans to remember those who gave their lives for the country. Perhaps the question isn’t which Memorial Day origin story is true. Perhaps the question is: What if they all are? Listen for a thoughtful look at the history, mystery and meaning of Memorial Day — and why remembering the stories…
People in this episode
Host: Jenna Lee
Topics covered
- Memorial Day origins
- Civil War history
- American holidays
- grief and gratitude
- community remembrance
Keywords
- Memorial Day
- origin stories
- Civil War
- grief
- gratitude
- community
- remembrance
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Charleston, South Carolina, Waterloo, New York, Arlington National Cemetery
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