Did you know... Memorial day was started by former slaves on May 1st 1865 in Charlston SC to honor 257 dead Union soldiers who had been buried in a mass grave in a Confederate prison camp. The prison camp had been a racetrack origionally. They dug up the bodies and worked for two weeks to give them a proper burial as gratitude for fighting for their freedom.
They then held a parade of 10000 people led by 2800 black children who had just been admitted into the freedom schools. They mar hed and sang John Browns body. The children had armfuls of roses and covered the 257 graves with them...calling the event... Decoration Day...which later became Memorial day.
Last edited by Mr. Stanley on May 26, 2014 13:48.
