Memorial Day, once known as Decoration Day, was officially proclaimed in May, 1868, by General John Logan. The day was set aside to honor America's men and women that gave their lives in the armed services. Even before this proclamation, southern women's groups decorated their soldier's grave and honored their Confederate dead.
The National Holiday Act of 1971 ensured a three day weekend by celebrating on the last Monday of May. A true Memorial Day is lost to some, marking the calendar with a late spring holiday. In 1999, Senator Inouye introduced a bill to the Senate, proposing restoration to the traditional May 30th holiday, hoping to steer from the nation's cavalier Memorial Day observance. A similar House bill was sponsored by Representative Gibbons (HR 1474), seeing that the three day weekend has undermined the true meaning of America's Memorial Day.