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It began as remembrance and reconciliation after the US Civil War, by the early 20th century, Memorial Day was an occasion for more general expressions of memory, as ordinary people visited the graves of their deceased relatives, whether they had served in the military or not. It also became a long weekend increasingly devoted to shopping, family get-togethers, fireworks, trips to the beach, and national media events

General John A. Logan, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic issued a proclamation , on May 5, 1868 that "Decoration Day" (as it was then called) should be observed nationwide.

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