Memorial Day History

Traditionally, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and a weekend full of parades, hamburgers and long road trips. Most importantly, it’s a day to remember those who have died in defense of this country, although the holiday had a rocky start in this regard.

Despite its status as a national holiday, the origins of what was once known as “Decoration Day” are shrouded in incomplete historical records and the division between the North and the South caused by the Civil War.

According to USMemorialDay.org, the original name for the holiday was inspired when women adorned Confederate soldiers’ gravestones after the Civil War ended. But tensions between the two regions caused the holiday to be stuck in limbo as a national celebration for more than 50 years.

Memorial Day was first proclaimed in 1868 when the graves of soldiers buried at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. were decorated. By 1890, all the northern states adopted the holiday, but the South refused and celebrated the dead in their own ways. That changed in the early 20th century, when the holiday was changed to also honor the people who died in World War I.

In 1971, the U.S. Congress officially made Memorial Day a federal holiday.

Shelton Celebrates

A traditional Memorial Day Parade is held in Shelton every year, and with all schools, both libraries and closed for a day of reflection, it parade draws a large crowd. The city's website notes that "the parade gets bigger and bigger every year."

All the surrounding towns in the Naugatuck Valley are invited to join in remembering the veterans. Participants are encouraged to make their way downtown by 9 a.m. sharp for easy parking a prime viewing spot of the procession.

Shelton Police Chief Joel Hurliman said this year's parade starts in Derby at Cottage and Elizabeth Streets and goes down Elizabeth to Main Street Route 34, then to Bridge Street Route 712. There is a pause on the bridge for a ceremony where a wreath is dropped into the water in memory of all those lost at sea who never received a proper burial. There is a flyover by the Connecticut Air National Guard scheduled for the time of this brief ceremony.

The parade reforms and makes a right on Howe Avenue Route 110, left on White Street, left on Coram Avenue Route 108, left on Center Street Route 714, right on Howe Avenue Route 110 and ends at Cornell Street.

Following the parade there is a memorial service at Sutter Terlizzi Post 16 American Legion which the police department also participates in. There is parking ban along the route both in Derby and Shelton from 6 a.m. on Monday, May 30 until about 2 p.m. Vehicles that are not moved prior to that time will be towed and ticketed.

Vacation

The holiday is also a time to travel. According to AAA Southern New England, more than 34.9 million people in the United States will travel to celebrate the start of summer. Despite the high gas prices, that’s a .02 percent increase of 100,000 trips from last year.

While high gas prices make for water cooler conversations, AAA reports that six out of ten people say the cost of gas won’t impact their travel plans. Of those people who will have to modify travel plans, 70 percent plan to scale back their plans by saving more money or taking a shorter trip.

Here are some more stats: 

• Approximately 30.9 million (88 percent) will travel by auto. Last year, 31 million drove. 
• Approximately 2.93 million (8 percent) will fly, even though airfares are expected to increase 14 percent. That’s an 11.5 percent increase from last year
• The remaining 3 percent plan to travel by other modes of transportation such as rail, bus or boat.