Decoration Day originated during the Civil War. To honor the deceased, soldiers would decorate graves of their fallen comrades with flowers, flags and wreaths. Although Memorial Day became its official title in the 1880s, the holiday wouldn’t legally become Memorial Day until 1967.

May 30th was the official date until it was moved to the last Monday of May due to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which took effect in 1971.

In addition to the national holiday, nine states officially set aside a day to honor those who died fighting for the Confederacy in the Civil War: Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia. 

Multiple cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. According to the Library of Congress, President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, to be the "Birthplace of Memorial Day," referencing a celebration the town had in 1866. However, other places are known to have celebrated the holiday earlier, and exactly where the first celebration took place remains in dispute.

Gregg Farm Services and GFS Outdoor Power Equipment will be closed on Monday, May 30th. 

Please visit our website to view our holiday sales.