Pittsfield Historical Society

Description

Members of the GAR Stephen Davis Post #11 likely wore this badge at the special Memorial Day service held in 1904, at the dedication of the Soldiers' Monument and the Pittsfield Public Library.

John Logan, Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) issued a general order in 1868 designating May 30th as a "day for strewing with flowers the graves of comrades in defense of their country." Originally called Decoration Day, the holiday later evolved into what is now called Memorial Day.

View additional information about this item on the Maine Memory Network.