Sean Protas: From Decoration Day to Memorial Day – A History of the US Memorial Day Holiday

Not only is he a history buff, my old high school class mate Sean Protas is also a Civil War re-eanactor.  In this episode Sean provides us with history lesson of the American Civil War leading up to Decoration day which eventually becomes Memorial Day.  The Episode opens with the playing of Taps to mark the solemnity of the holiday and ends with a playing of the US Armed Forces Medley led by Gary Sinise from the 2018 National Memorial Day Concert which aired on PBS.

During the first half of the show Sean walks us through some memorable Civil War reenactments which helped lead the country in the healing process following the war.

Around the 47 minute mark Sean reads for us General Order #11 from General John A. Logan which “officially unofficially” recognizes a day to memorialize the casualties of the Civil War.