Memorial Day
The first Memorial Day was actually started on May 1, 1865 by former slaves in Charleston, South Carolina to honor 257 dead Union Soldiers who had been buried in a mass grave
in a Confederate prison camp.
They dug up the bodies and worked for 2 weeks to give them a proper burial as gratitude
for fighting for their freedom.
They then held a parade of 10,000 people led by 2,800 Black children where they marched, sang and celebrated.
1st Memorial Day participants
Lakewood United Church of Christ 