One of the earliest Memorial Day observances occurred on May 1, 1865. Organized by freed slaves and white missionaries.

Memorial Day might look like backyard barbecues and flag-draped parades now, but its earliest roots trace back to the ruins of the Civil War. And it all started with newly freed Black people who ...

The National Park Service shared the story of a local Black Grand Army of the Republic being placed behind a white cadet brigade during the 1898 Memorial Day parade in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

Memorial Day's hidden history: How Black Americans started the day of remembrance One of the earliest Memorial Day observances occurred on May 1, 1865. Organized by freed slaves and white ...

Memorial Day 2025 should remember Black veterans who faced lynching and violence after military service, with at least 35 documented cases from 1865-1950.