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Originally, the holiday was known as "Decoration Day." It was started by a Civil War general named Gen. John Logan, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. General Logan sought a way to help the country come back together after the horrors and divide of the Civil War.

The holiday was first observed on May 30, 1868, and Gen. Logan chose that date for two very important reasons: First, the day did not mark the anniversary of a Civil War battle, and second "flowers would likely be in bloom all over the United States." Indeed, many took flowers to Arlington National Cemetery, an activity that still occurs every year.

The above is an excerpt from the article in the link.


http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/93711?fp=1

The holiday was first observed on May 30, 1868, and Gen. Logan chose that date for two very important reasons: First, the day did not mark the anniversary of a Civil War battle, and second "flowers would likely be in bloom all over the United States." Indeed, many took flowers to Arlington National Cemetery, an activity that still occurs every year.

This made me realise what a comparatively young country the USA is. I was born in 1943, only 78 years after the end of the American Civil War. It's quite likely that some of the participants were still alive on my birthday.

The English Civil War officially ended in 1651. We never had a Memorial Day to mark the event.