First Memorial Day

National Memorial Day is here.
In the spring of 1866 the ladies of Columbus, Mississippi carried flowers to Friendship Cemetery to decorate the graves of Confederate Soldiers who fell, probably mortally wounded at Shiloh (Pittsburgh Landing.) After the battle, trains moved southward dropping off the wounded in Tupelo, Columbus, Macon, Meridian and all points in between. Many men who died in homes of these communities were buried in those towns.
While decorating graves of our fallen, the women looked over to the graves of the boys in blue with compassion for their sacrifice as well. They too were covered in the fragrance of spring that represents awakening, resurrection.
Other states argue that they were first but it seems to be agreed upon by most that Mississippi was first.
Francis Miles Finch happened to be in Columbus that day and was inspired to write the poem
"The Blue And The Grey"