Memorial Day 的詞源

"紀念日"，1819年開始用於任何週年紀念日，尤其是宗教紀念日； 參見 memorial（形容詞）。作爲一個特定的五月底紀念美國戰爭死亡者的節日，它在19世紀60年代末非正式地開始紀念內戰中陣亡的北方士兵。1869年，它被退伍軍人組織正式稱爲這樣的節日，但 Decoration Day 也被使用。北方主要的退伍軍人組織大陸軍在1882年的決議中正式將其指定爲紀念日：

That the Commander-in-Chief be requested to issue a General Order calling the attention of the officers and members of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of the people at large, to the fact that the proper designation of May 30th is Memorial Day and to request that it may be always so called. [Grand Army Blue Book, Philadelphia, 1884]

請求總司令發佈一項總命令，引起大陸軍的軍官和成員以及廣大民衆的注意，指出5月30日的適當稱呼是紀念日，並請求永遠這樣稱呼。[大陸軍藍皮書，費城，1884年]

然而，南方有自己的聯盟紀念日，對這個名稱的顯然挪用有些不滿。

The word "Memorial" was adopted by the Maryland Confederates shortly after the war, and has been generally used throughout the South. It is distinctively Confederate in its origin and use, and I would suggest to all Confederate societies to adhere to it. The Federals' annual day of observance is known as "Decoration Day," having been made so by an act of Congress, and the 30th day of May named as the date. In Maryland there is annually a Decoration Day and a Memorial Day. The two words are expressive not only of the nature of the observance, but also of the people who participate therein. [Confederate Veteran, November 1893]

“紀念”一詞在戰後不久被馬里蘭聯盟派採用，並在南方廣泛使用。它在起源和用法上具有明顯的聯盟特色，我建議所有聯盟社團堅持使用這個詞。聯邦的年度紀念日被稱爲“裝飾日”，這是由國會的一項法案制定的，5月30日被指定爲日期。在馬里蘭州，每年都有一個裝飾日和一個紀念日。這兩個詞不僅表達了紀念活動的性質，也表達了參與其中的人民。[聯盟老兵，1893年11月]