In April 1866, around a year after the Civil War had concluded, a group of Columbus women gathered in Friendship Cemetery to decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers who had fallen at Shiloh. As they completed their task, they recognized graves of Union soldiers nearby that were bare and hadn’t received visitors. So they chose to lay a few stems for those men, too. The groundbreaking act of unity, recognized not as a fallen Confederate or a fallen Union soldier, but as a fallen American, offered healing after the Civil War that inspired the creation of Memorial Day as a national observance.
Years later, an organization of Civil War veterans established what became Memorial Day, selecting a date that coincided with when flowers bloomed. Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30 every year until 1971. Memorial Day became a federal holiday in 1971. Finally, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, originally passed in 1968, officially designated Memorial Day as the last Monday in May and made it a national holiday.
Ahead of Memorial Day, most sitting U.S. Presidents commemorate the holiday’s significance by delivering a formal address, providing poignant remarks, or participating in ceremonies honoring our men and women in uniform who have died in service to the country. President Obama recognized the 1866 ladies of Columbus, Mississippi, as the national inspiration for the holiday in his 2010 Memorial Day Address.
Today, Columbus proudly upholds this tradition, inviting residents and visitors alike to commemorate the brave men and women who have served in the United States.
“Columbus holds a unique and meaningful place in American history as the city that inspired Memorial Day,” said Frances Glenn, tourism director for the Columbus-Lowndes Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We are proud to carry this legacy of unity, remembrance, and gratitude. We invite everyone to join us in honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice — and to experience the rich history that makes Columbus so special.”
Today, Friendship Cemetery remains a centerpiece of Columbus’s rich historical landscape, attracting visitors from around the nation who come to pay tribute and learn about the city’s pivotal place in shaping one of America’s most solemn traditions. Columbus, Mississippi, will honor its legacy as the city that sparked a national tradition of remembrance with a full day of events on May 24, 2025
The day begins at 8 a.m. with the Kiwanis 5K Run at the historic Friendship Cemetery, followed by a Flag Placement Ceremony at 9 a.m. The highlight of the morning is the Memorial Program at 10 a.m., held at the very site where, in April 1866, local women were the first to honor the graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers. This act inspired the establishment of Memorial Day as a national observance.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the community is invited to gather at the Riverwalk Stage for Traditions, Taste, and Tunes, featuring local food trucks and live music by Roar Music, providing a lively and family-friendly atmosphere to celebrate community and remembrance.
As we commemorate Memorial Day this weekend, hold all our fallen heroes in your hearts, and if you can, lay a flower where they have come to rest.
In Mississippi, wreath-laying ceremonies for Memorial Day will occur at multiple locations, including Biloxi National Cemetery, Corinth National Cemetery, and Natchez National Cemetery on May 26. There will be a Memorial Day Parade and wreath-laying ceremony in Vicksburg on May 26. Additionally, Wreaths Across America ceremonies will be held at various locations across the state, including Greenlawn Memorial Park, Cedar Grove Cemetery in Clinton, and the MS Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Newton.
