Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1903 — Origin of Memorial Day in South. [ARTICLE]

Origin of Memorial Day in South.

An association known, as the Dadies’ Aid Society was organised in for looking after soldiers who died hr Columbus hospifials; They 'were buried Under the direction of th«%e ladies, who thereafter took charge of thes'c* graves, making it a practice to ga in a body to care for and beautify them with plants and flowera, Upon the occasion of one Df these visits, la January, .1866, Miss Lizzie Rutherford, a member of the. society,. Made the suggestion- that a '•specified day should be adopted upon Which - a memorial service should be held* for the purpose of decorating the Confederate graves annnejlyi j jTbe,-pr?poe itlon met at once with the greatest favor, and a letter was addressed tb'ench of the chapters in other cities abd towns suggesting similar action on their 1 part. These letters were written in March, 1866, and from their publication resulted the observance of Ajwtl 20 as Memorial day for the Confederate dead in several Southern State*.—Sfrs.';VV Jbfferioo Davis in Woman** "Home Cornnitrion. - r.. - -.Tv-- _ 4*