Memorial Day Originated in Petersburg, Virginia

The first Memorial Day occurred June 9, 1865, in Petersburg, Virginia.

Confederate Arch, Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg, Virginia

The ladies of Petersburg went out to Blandford Cemetery just east of town to decorate the graves of their friends and relatives who had perished on June 9, 1864, repelling a Federal attack on the city.  The definitive account of that fight is in William Glenn Robertson's excellent The First Battle for Petersburg:  The Attack and Defense of the Cockade City, June 9, 1864 (Savas Beatie, 2015).  Soldiers from many wars are buried in Blandford Cemetery, beginning with the War of Independence.  Thirty thousand Confederate dead are buried there.  The wife of the commandant of the Federal troops occupying Petersburg spread to the North the idea of a day commemorating war dead.  Scott, James G., and Wyatt, Edward A.  Petersburg's Story:  A History.  Petersburg:  Titmus Optical Co., 1960.

Blandford Church

Blandford Church, built 1734-1737, stands beside Blandford Cemetery.  The church was in ruins during the Civil War but was subsequently restored and adorned with 15 Tiffany stained-glass windows.